India Under 19 qualify for the QF, beat NZ Under 19 by 120 runs; Nepal qualify as well

Continuing their winning streak in the ongoing ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup, India Under 19 won their second consecutive league game of the tournament beating New Zealand Under 19 by 120 runs, and consequently, qualified for the quarter-finals.

Half-centuries from Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant helped India post 258/8 in their designated 50 overs, before Avesh Khan and Mahipal Lomror ran through the NZ batting order and helped India dismiss them for a paltry 138.

After winning the toss asking India to bat, NZ bowlers managed to make some early in-roads, as Nathan Smith and Zack Gibson dismissed the Indian captain Ishan Kishan and Ricky Bhui respectively inside the first six overs to reduce India to 19/2.

But Sarfaraz and Pant laid to waste New Zealand’s chances of capitalizing on the solid start thet they had got, and shared a vital 89-run partnership or the third wicket to put India ahead by the half-way stage of the 1st innings at 108/2. Dane Phillips, thereafter, helped NZ stage a comeback in the 27th over to dismiss Pant for 57.

That brought Arman Jaffer to the crease, who, along with a well-set Sarfaraz added 40 more runs to the total, before Smith returned to send Sarfaraz back for 74 and deny the Indian batsman three figures in his second straight match.

With five of the top six back in the pavilion by the 37th over with the score being 165/5, the finishing touch to the Indian innings was given by Mahipal Lomror, who combined with Jaffer to add 56 runs for the sixth wicket thereby helping India reach a challenging total of 258. Jaffer scored 46 and Lomror hit a quickfire 45 off 42 balls.

The New Zealand reply never got going really as the Indian bowlers never let loose the shackles that they had imposed on their opponents right from the 3rd over that saw the first Kiwi wicket fall. In no time, NZ were 16/4 in 10.2 overs- losing Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Josh Clarkson and captain Josh Finnie- to reach a state they could never recover from.

Although Christian Leopard and Finn Allen tried to put up some fight and resurrect the NZ innings with their parternship of 49 for the fifth wicket, the introduction of Lomror into the attack saw both of them getting dismissed in quick succession. The win was a mere formality from thereon, as Lomror took three more wickets to wrap up the NZ innings, and in the process, competed the first five-wicket haul of his international under 19 career.

With this victory, India now top the points table in Group D with 4 points from 2 matches- having already beaten Ireland in their previous game- and have qualified for the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Brief Scores: India Under 19 258/8 (Sarfaraz 74, Gibson 3/50) beat New Zealand Under 19 (toss) 138 (Leopard 40, Lomror 5/47) by 120 runs.

Nepal advance as well

In another Group D clash, Nepal Under 19 continued their unbelievable run in the Under 19 World Cup by beating Ireland Under 19 by 8 wickets and thereby booking their berth as well in the quarter-finals. Nepal gunned down their target of 132 in 25.3 overs losing just 2 wickets after restricting Ireland to 131/9. Sandeep Lamichhane picked up 5 wickets for Nepal while Yogendra Karki scored an unbeaten 61. Nepal had, on January 28 defeated New Zealand Under 19 by 32 runs, in what was seen as a massive upset.

Brief Scores: Nepal Under 19 132/2 (Karki 61, Little 1/17) beat Ireland Under 19 (toss) 131/9 (Tector 30, Lamichhane 5/27) by 8 wickets.