Oh dear, it's raining, covers are out and the players are going back to the dressing room! Manjot Kalra had just tonked a free-hit for a six and Prithvi Shaw has hit a sumptuous four through the leg-side. Australia, though, won't mind this intervention.
Australian innings:
While Jonathan Merlo scored a gritty fifty, the Indian bowlers, who struck at regular intervals, bundled out Australia for 216 in the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup final at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga on Saturday.
Ishan Porel (2//30), Anukul Roy (2/32) Shiva Singh (2/36) and Kamlesh Nagarkoti (2/41) scalped two wickets each to deny Australia a chance to score a big total on the board after they elected to bat on a pitch, that was said to be a belter.
Australia enjoyed a brisk start, with openers Max Bryant and Jack Edwards, who rode his luck, playing shots to take Australia to 32/0 after five overs. However, Ishan Porel, who broke Pakistan’s back in the semifinals. struck twice in quick succession to remove Edwards and Bryant before Kamlesh Nagarkoti reduced Australia to 59/3 by removing skipper Jason Sangha.
While Param Uppal and Merlo stitched a 75-run partnership, Anukul Roy broke Uppal’s vigil to end the partnership. Nathan McSweeney joined Merlo as the two put in 49 runs together. But then Shiva Singh’s double strike left Australia reeling as the left-arm spinner dismissed McSweeney and Will Sutherland in quick succession.
Merlo, who had held the Australian innings together, was left with no other option but to play his strokes and one such shot ended his innings as Anukul got him out in the deep as Shiva took a neat catch running in. Australia were 212/7 when Merlo got out and the India did not allow the Australian lower-order any breathing space as they scalped last three wickets for four runs to get all out for 216.
Australia 216 all out from 47.2 overs:
WICKET! That's a wrap! Australia have tumbled! Shivam Mavi gets a wicket. Ryan Hadley edges one to Harvik. From 191/5 to 216 all out, that escalated rather quickly for Australia. India need 217 runs to lift the ICC Under-19 World Cup for the record fourth time.
Australia 215/9 from 46.3 overs:
WICKET! Run-out! Top work from Shiva Singh in the deep once again. He is just everywhere and troubling the Aussies. He rushes in to put his body on the line, while attempting a catch! The ball falls just short but he is aware and quickly throws the ball back at the wicketkeeper Harvik to catch Baxter Holt short of his crease.
Australia 214/8 from 46.1 overs:
WICKET! Nagarkoti disturbs the timber! Australia 8 down as Zak Evans makes a walk back to the dressing room. Are we gonna see a crumble?
Australia 212/7 from 45.3 overs:
WICKET! A big wicket for India! Merlo's vigil comes to an end. Did he play a shot too many? Maybe not. But India won't mind that one bit. His reverse sweep is caught in the deep by Shiva Singh. Australia 7 down.
Australia 191/6 from 41.3 overs:
WICKET! Shiva Singh does the trick again but what a fine catch it is from Harvik Desai! Will Sutherland tries to guide one through the off-side and Harvis latches onto an outside. Two quick wickets for India and Shiva and Australia are under pressure.
Australia 185/5 from 40 overs:
WICKET! Shiva SIngh strikes for Team India! Nathan McSweeney departs for 23. Similar dismissal to that of Param Uppal. The ball gripped as McSweeney tried to play across the line. The ball takes leading edge and goes back to the bowler
Australia 163/4 from 35 overs:
Jonathan Merlo has kept Australia in the hunt but he will need someone to accompany him a little longer if Australia have to put up a competitive total on board. Can Nathan McSweeney be that guy?
Australia 134/4 from 28.5 overs:
WICKET! What a fine over this is! Anukul Roy does the trick for India. Param Uppal departs, caught and bowled. This looked around the corner. There was flight and Uppal tried to work one through the leg side, unsuccessfully as the leading edge lands into Anukul's hands.
Australia 117/3 from 25 overs:
Jonathan Merlo and Param Uppal have brought up 50-run partnership as Australia look to rebuild their innings. While Indian spinners have managed to keep the run-rate in check, they have not got any wickets as yet.
Australia 94/3 from 20 overs:
Jonathan Merlo and Param Uppal are looking to steady the ship and deny India a chance to run through the Australian batting line-up. India, to their credit though, have managed to keep things tight.
Australia 59/3 from 11.4 overs:
WICKET! What a fine catch this is from wicketkeeper Harvik Desai! Kamlesh Nagarkoti has struck in his first over and it's a big wicket of Australian skipper Jason Sangha. He plays one away from the body and edges it. Harvik launches himself to his right to take a stunner.
Australia 52/2 from 10 overs:
WICKET! Ishan Porel is at it again! And look at that for celebrations. He is all pumped up. Jack Edwards plays a shot too many and Kamlesh Nagarkoti has taken an easy catch in the covers. Australia have lost the aggressor.
Australia 32/1 from 5.1 overs
WICKET! Early inroads! Ishan Porel has struck and that's the end of Australia's opening stand. Bryant has played one in the air and Abhishek Sharma has taken a fine catch to give India their first breakthrough.
Australian skipper Jason Sangha has won the toss and elected to bat in the all-important 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup at the at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga on Saturday.
Australian innings:
While Jonathan Merlo scored a gritty fifty, the Indian bowlers, who struck at regular intervals, bundled out Australia for 216 in the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup final at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga on Saturday.
Ishan Porel (2//30), Anukul Roy (2/32) Shiva Singh (2/36) and Kamlesh Nagarkoti (2/41) scalped two wickets each to deny Australia a chance to score a big total on the board after they elected to bat on a pitch, that was said to be a belter.
Australia enjoyed a brisk start, with openers Max Bryant and Jack Edwards, who rode his luck, playing shots to take Australia to 32/0 after five overs. However, Ishan Porel, who broke Pakistan’s back in the semifinals. struck twice in quick succession to remove Edwards and Bryant before Kamlesh Nagarkoti reduced Australia to 59/3 by removing skipper Jason Sangha.
While Param Uppal and Merlo stitched a 75-run partnership, Anukul Roy broke Uppal’s vigil to end the partnership. Nathan McSweeney joined Merlo as the two put in 49 runs together. But then Shiva Singh’s double strike left Australia reeling as the left-arm spinner dismissed McSweeney and Will Sutherland in quick succession.
Merlo, who had held the Australian innings together, was left with no other option but to play his strokes and one such shot ended his innings as Anukul got him out in the deep as Shiva took a neat catch running in. Australia were 212/7 when Merlo got out and the India did not allow the Australian lower-order any breathing space as they scalped last three wickets for four runs to get all out for 216.
Australia 216 all out from 47.2 overs:
WICKET! That's a wrap! Australia have tumbled! Shivam Mavi gets a wicket. Ryan Hadley edges one to Harvik. From 191/5 to 216 all out, that escalated rather quickly for Australia. India need 217 runs to lift the ICC Under-19 World Cup for the record fourth time.
Australia 215/9 from 46.3 overs:
WICKET! Run-out! Top work from Shiva Singh in the deep once again. He is just everywhere and troubling the Aussies. He rushes in to put his body on the line, while attempting a catch! The ball falls just short but he is aware and quickly throws the ball back at the wicketkeeper Harvik to catch Baxter Holt short of his crease.
Australia 214/8 from 46.1 overs:
WICKET! Nagarkoti disturbs the timber! Australia 8 down as Zak Evans makes a walk back to the dressing room. Are we gonna see a crumble?
Australia 212/7 from 45.3 overs:
WICKET! A big wicket for India! Merlo's vigil comes to an end. Did he play a shot too many? Maybe not. But India won't mind that one bit. His reverse sweep is caught in the deep by Shiva Singh. Australia 7 down.
Australia 191/6 from 41.3 overs:
WICKET! Shiva Singh does the trick again but what a fine catch it is from Harvik Desai! Will Sutherland tries to guide one through the off-side and Harvis latches onto an outside. Two quick wickets for India and Shiva and Australia are under pressure.
Australia 185/5 from 40 overs:
WICKET! Shiva SIngh strikes for Team India! Nathan McSweeney departs for 23. Similar dismissal to that of Param Uppal. The ball gripped as McSweeney tried to play across the line. The ball takes leading edge and goes back to the bowler
Australia 163/4 from 35 overs:
Jonathan Merlo has kept Australia in the hunt but he will need someone to accompany him a little longer if Australia have to put up a competitive total on board. Can Nathan McSweeney be that guy?
Australia 134/4 from 28.5 overs:
WICKET! What a fine over this is! Anukul Roy does the trick for India. Param Uppal departs, caught and bowled. This looked around the corner. There was flight and Uppal tried to work one through the leg side, unsuccessfully as the leading edge lands into Anukul's hands.
Australia 117/3 from 25 overs:
Jonathan Merlo and Param Uppal have brought up 50-run partnership as Australia look to rebuild their innings. While Indian spinners have managed to keep the run-rate in check, they have not got any wickets as yet.
Australia 94/3 from 20 overs:
Jonathan Merlo and Param Uppal are looking to steady the ship and deny India a chance to run through the Australian batting line-up. India, to their credit though, have managed to keep things tight.
Australia 59/3 from 11.4 overs:
WICKET! What a fine catch this is from wicketkeeper Harvik Desai! Kamlesh Nagarkoti has struck in his first over and it's a big wicket of Australian skipper Jason Sangha. He plays one away from the body and edges it. Harvik launches himself to his right to take a stunner.
Australia 52/2 from 10 overs:
WICKET! Ishan Porel is at it again! And look at that for celebrations. He is all pumped up. Jack Edwards plays a shot too many and Kamlesh Nagarkoti has taken an easy catch in the covers. Australia have lost the aggressor.
Australia 32/1 from 5.1 overs
WICKET! Early inroads! Ishan Porel has struck and that's the end of Australia's opening stand. Bryant has played one in the air and Abhishek Sharma has taken a fine catch to give India their first breakthrough.
Australian skipper Jason Sangha has won the toss and elected to bat in the all-important 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup at the at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga on Saturday.
