On January 29, India entered the semifinal stage of the ICC U19 World Cup 2022 after a comprehensive win over reigning champions Bangladesh at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. The Asian rivalry saw Indian U-19s brutally avenge their painful loss in the final of the tournament’s last edition in South Africa.
Having won the toss and opted to bowl first, they bundled out the opposition for just 111 inside 38 overs before chasing the score down with five wickets intact and nearly 20 more overs left in the proceedings.
Left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar and left-arm spinner Vicky Ostwal were the stars of the show for their side. While Kumar (3/14) dismantled the Bangladeshi batting unit with an excellent opening burst, his great work was carried forward by Ostwal, who gave away only 25 runs and picked up two wickets off his nine overs.
These two were ably supported by Rajvardhan Hangargekar (1/19), Kaushal Tambe (1/27), Raj Bawa (0/16) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (1/4). The supporting cast hardly gave away a thing, which combined with the incisive ways of Kumar and Ostwal meant that Bangladesh were never allowed to get going.
In a sorry-looking scorecard, lower-order bat SM Meherob top-scored with a 30. Only two other Bangladesh U19 batters – Aich Mollah (17) and Ashiqur Zaman (16) – entered double digits against some highly impressive Indian bowling.
With victory nearly sealed at the halfway mark, it was expected that the Indian U-19 would coast along to the winning post. However, they had their stutters and lost as many as five wickets before reaching the target. But opening batter Raghuvanshi’s finely compiled 44, along with twenties from Shaik Rasheed (26) and captain Yash Dhull (20*), pushed the team home.
Bangladesh couldn’t find a batting hero on the day, but they had their one major positive with the ball in Ripon Mondol, whose spell of four for 31 made the Indians a touch uncomfortable in what was felt would be a straightforward chase.
Low scoring game. Tough pitch to bat. Tricky run-chase…but India’s young guns have done it. Lost to Bangladesh in the U-19 World Cup final in the last edition…now, beat them to move to the final 4. Well done, Youngistaan 🥳🥳 #INDvBAN #U19CWC2022
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 30, 2022
Defeat has put Bangladesh out of the race for the Super League title, while India progressed to semifinal 2 where they’ll take on Australia on February 2 in Antigua.
In another U-19 World Cup match played for the Plate League semifinal 2, Ireland came out on top against the more experienced Zimbabwe, securing a confidence-boosting win by eight wickets.
Having lost the toss and being asked to bowl first, the Irish displayed their strongest performance with the ball in hand and dismissed the opposition for just 166 runs in 48.4 overs at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad.
Things could easily have been worse for the Zimbabweans if not for the thirties made by Brian Bennett (37) and David Bennett (35). But equally, the Benett duo failed to make their encouraging starts count and score something substantial, which would’ve allowed their team to make a total in excess of 220-230.
Ireland had two stand-out performers with the ball in Muzamil Sherzad and Matthew Humphreys. While Sherzad bagged a magnificent five-fer (5/20), Humphreys contributed three scalps in her important spell of three for 32.
In the run-chase, they lost two early wickets, but opening batter Jack Dickson and skipper Tim Tector soon took control of things and stitched an unbeaten partnership of 159 runs. Dickson made 78 not out off 88 balls, whereas Tector struck a watchful 76* from 94 deliveries.
The duo batted in full command of the proceedings and didn’t allow Zimbabwe to build inroads after they had left Ireland 10 for two at one stage.
