• sportzyverse
• Cricket news
• 02/12/2024
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When India was on the verge of healing from the ODI World Cup final loss, Australia dealt them another defeat. After putting a decent total of 254 runs on board, Australian bowlers displayed why their side is considered the top cricket team. Under the captaincy of Hugh Weibgen, the Australian team clinched their fourth Under-19 World Cup. The feat happened at the Sahara Park Willowmoore Cricket Stadium in Benoni when the Indian Cricket Team fell short of the target and got dismissed at 174. 

With three wickets each, Mahli Beardman and Raf MacMillian played a crucial role, and Callum Vidler led from the front. Alongside Charlie Anderson and Tom Straker, who contributed with one wicket each, they provided the ideal start for their side. This collective effort helped them secure a 79-run victory over India in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup finals 2024.

India lose the status of Under-19 World Cup chase-masters

Australia’s win on Sunday forced India to lose their Under-19 Chase-Masters title. Having never lost a U19 World Cup final in a run chase, India couldn’t breach the yellow wall this time. 

The Men in Blue asserted their dominance in the initial phases of the tournament. They secured convincing victories against Bangladesh, Ireland, and the USA, propelled by outstanding performances from Saumy Pandey, Musheer Khan, and Naman Tiwari. Nonetheless, they fell short against Australia. 

Australia, having opted to bat first, built a total of 253 for 8 in their 50 overs, propelled by Harjas Singh’s half-century and a valuable late contribution from Oliver Peake. This marked the highest total ever recorded in the final of a U-19 World Cup. However, India’s pursuit of a record-breaking chase faced early setbacks.

Losing opener Arshin Kulkarni in the third over set the tone for India’s challenging chase. Mahli Beardman wreaked havoc in the middle order as India struggled at 68 for 4 by the 20th over. Although opener Adarsh Singh (47) and lower-order batsman Murugan Abhishek (42) exhibited resilience, the Australian team maintained control, preventing India from mounting a successful comeback in the chase.

Uday Saharan finished as the top scorer of the tournament

Team India’s captain, Uday Saharan, who emerged as the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 397 runs in seven matches at an average of 56.71, expressed his gratitude for the valuable lessons he gained throughout the competition. 

He emphasised that the insights acquired from the coaching staff and experiences during matches have contributed significantly to his learning. Saharan aspires to carry forward these newfound learnings as he progresses in his cricketing career