2018 Under-19 World Cup: 5 outstanding moments from the tournament

The Prithvi Shaw-led Team India won all of their six games including the final as they cruised to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Australia to lift the ICC Under-19 World Cup title at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.

Chasing 217 to win, India reached the target with 67 balls remaining and became the only side to win the trophy four times.

India had previously won the tournament in 2000, 2008 and 2012.

Although India emerged as the eventual winners, the 12th edition of the biennial tournament which started in 1988, saw many great performances from players of other nations as well.

Now, let us look at five outstanding performances from the tournament.

---

#5 Shaheen Afridi's 6-15 versus Ireland

Pakistan's young sensation Shaheen Afridi's display of traditional fast-bowling saw him claim a six-wicket haul as Ireland were bundled out for 97 in the 10th match Under-19 Cricket World Cup at the Cobham Oval in Whangarei.

Afridi claimed 6 for 15 in just 8.5 overs, including three maidens, recording the best ever figures for a Pakistani bowler in the ICC Under-19 World Cup.

Ireland, batting first, were bowled out for 97 courtesy of a magical spell from the Man of the Match Afridi with some help from skipper Hassan Khan, who took 3 for 16.

Pakistan chased down the target within nine overs, losing just one wicket in the process and recording a nine-wicket win. Zaid Alam remained unbeaten on 43 off 19 balls while Hassan Khan was not out at 27 off 21.

#4 Hasitha Boyagoda's 191 versus Kenya

Hasitha Boyagoda smashed his name into the record books by becoming the highest-ever scorer in Under-19 ODIs as Sri Lanka crushed Kenya by 311 runs at Lincoln 3 in their Under-19 World Cup encounter.

When the 19-year-old passed 180, he broke the record set by Jakob Bhula, made just six days before the Sri Lankan against the same opposition.

The right-handed top-order batsman hammered 191 off 152 balls to power Sri Lanka to a massive 419/4 in 50 overs. His innings comprised of 28 fours and two sixes. In reply, Kenya were bowled out for 108 runs in 35.5 overs.

This was Sri Lanka’s joint second-biggest victory in Under-19 ODI history, also the 4th highest total ever in Under-19 ODIs.

#3 Lloyd Pope 8-35 versus England

Australia have been blessed with another leg-spin sensation in the form of Lloyd Pope as he recorded figures of 8/35 to set up a miraculous quarter-final win over England at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

Bowling from the Remarkables End at Queenstown, the Adelaide teenager claimed 8 wickets while conceding 35 runs from 57 balls as England, after being 0-47, were bowled out for 96 while chasing Australia's total of 127.

Defending just 127, the three-time winners Australia were facing one of their earliest exits from the tournament before the 18-year-old Pope recorded the best figures in the tournament's history and gave his side a 31-run victory.

#2 Shubman Gill's 102* versus Pakistan

Vice-captain Shubman Gill played a responsible knock and became the first Indian to score a ton in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, to steer his team to 272 for 9 in the semi-final against Pakistan.

Gill came in to bat after the fall of skipper Prithvi Shaw and remained unbeaten on 102, taking his personal tally to 341 runs in the tournament at an average of over 150.

The right-hander from Punjab also became the first-ever batsman to score a century in India-Pakistan contests in the Under-19 World Cups with previous highest being Salman Butt's 85* at Lincoln in 2002.

It was also Gill's fourth 50-plus score in the recently-concluded edition of the World Cup – 63, 90*, 86 and 102*.

India's top-scorer Gill, who scored a total of 372 runs in the tournament, was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 1.8 crore in the Indian Premier League 2018 Auction.

#1 Manjot Kalra's 101* versus Australia

Manjot Kalra rose up to the big occasion as he became the second Indian player after Unmukt Chand to score a ton in an ICC Under-19 World Cup final.

Kalra's unbeaten 101 came off 102-balls, comprising eight fours and three sixes as India lifted the title for record fourth time.

Kalra also became the fifth batsman after Brett Williams, Stephen Peters, Jarrad Burke, Unmukt Chand to score a century in the tournament's final.

In the first match of the tournament, Kalra scored 86 runs against Australia as he added over 100 runs for the first wicket with skipper Prithvi Shaw.

After failing to perform in a few matches, he scored 47 runs against Pakistan in the semi-final, helping India enter the final.

Just like the Indian cricket team skipper Virat Kohli, Kalra also hails from Delhi and was bought by the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL Auction 2018.