Aus vs Ind U19 World Cup Final Highlights: Australia Secures Fourth Title, Defeats India by 79 Runs. Uday Pratap Saharan-led Indian Team falls short at Sahara Park Willowmoore Cricket Stadium in Beloni on February 11. India’s Chase of 254 Runs Ends at 174; Adarsh Singh, Murugan Abhishek, and Musheer Khan Show Resilience. In the second innings, Australian bowlers dominated from the start, preventing Indian batters from settling. Mahli Beardman and Raf MacMillan claimed three wickets each, while Callum Vidler secured two. Charlie Anderson contributed with one wicket.
Mahli Beardman, with his exceptional performance of 3 wickets for 23 runs, earned the Player of the Match title. The Player of the Tournament accolade was bestowed upon South African pacer Kwena Maphaka. Having won the toss, the Australian team led by skipper Hugh Weibgen posted a total of 253/7 in 50 overs. They set a target of 254 runs for India to secure their sixth ICC U19 World Cup victory.
In the Australian innings, Harjas Singh (55) stood out as the lone half-centurion, supported by skipper Hugh Weibgen’s 48 runs. Opener Harry Dixon contributed a valuable 42 runs, and Oliver Peake remained unbeaten with 46 runs. However, no other batter managed to surpass 20 runs. Raj Limbani took three wickets for India, while Naman Tiwari claimed two. Saumy Pandey and Musheer Khan each secured one wicket.
How India’s Innings Unfolded
India faced an early setback in their chase as Arshin Kulkarni was caught behind. Adarsh Singh and Musheer Khan adopted a cautious approach, with only two fours in the initial Powerplay. Musheer began to play more aggressively after the first 10 overs but fell for 22 to a Mahli Beardman delivery.
Beardman claimed another crucial wicket by dismissing India’s captain Uday Saharan for 8, attempting an offside shot that found Weibgen at backward point. India suffered further blows as Sachin Dhas (8) edged one behind off Raf MacMillan.
Subsequently, Priyanshu Moliya and Aravelly Avanish were dismissed without significant contributions. When Adarsh Singh, showing resilience with 47 runs, was dismissed by Beardman, India’s fate seemed sealed. Abhishek Murugan fought with a feisty 42, but it proved too late for India.
Australia’s Innings
Harry Dixon made an aggressive start, accumulating 15 runs from Naman Tiwari’s first over. However, Raj Limbani’s delivery in the third over swerved in, dismissing his partner Sam Konstas. India then introduced spin, successfully curbing the scoring rate in the initial powerplay. During the middle overs, Dixon and Weibgen adopted a watchful approach against spinners while steadily adding runs. The 11-20 over period yielded 42 runs, with boundaries becoming more frequent towards the end. A return to pace saw immediate results in the 21st over, as Tiwari removed Weibgen for 48.
Tiwari struck again in the following over, this time dismissing Dixon with a deceptive slower ball. Harjas Singh and Ryan Hicks then forged a patient partnership, with Harjas showcasing a more aggressive approach against Priyanshu Moliya’s spin. In the 28th over, he hit a six and a four, initiating a flurry of boundaries.
Hicks fell victim to a leg-before-wicket decision by Limbani after scoring 20 runs, but Australia maintained a robust run rate. Harjas reached his inaugural fifty of the U19 World Cup by punching a full toss from Tiwari down the ground in the 37th over. Saumy Pandey responded for India by dismissing Harjas shortly after. Attempting a sweep towards the on-side, Harjas missed, resulting in a clear leg-before decision.
Ollie Peake’s assertive approach played a pivotal role as Australia surpassed the 200-run mark, despite India’s bowlers making consistent breakthroughs. Australia managed to accumulate 66 runs in the last 10 overs.
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