Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
HOSTS Zimbabwe should have picked a few crucial lessons at Harare Sports Club yesterday as India showcased the future of cricket in their ranks after winning a thrilling final against England and claim a record sixth title in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Teenage sensation Vaibav Sooryavanshi played a dream innings to set the foundation for India’s 100 run win, in this high-scoring final.
The 14-year-old left the cricket world spell bound with a brutal knock of 175 runs from 80 deliveries as India powered to a total of 411/9 in their 50 overs and then stopped their opponents on 311 all out in 40.2 overs.
England’s Caleb Falconer also mesmerised with a scintillating 67-ball 115, but the century was not enough to overhaul the youth cricket champions, who had won the toss and elected to bat first.
Legends of the game Andy Flower the former Zimbabwe captain, Ian Bishop of West Indies and Tatenda Taibu were among the crowds that were left in awe of the talent in display.
Taibu, who was part of the Under-19 World Cup in 2000 and 2002 before proceeding to captain Zimbabwe at the senior level, was left speechless by the talent on show during the tournament.
Taibu was specially mesmerised by the “fearless” batting of Sooryavanshi, who which comprised a record 15 sixes and as many fours.
Sooryavanshi was also instrumental in the semi-final when India overturned a target or 310 against Afghanistan and was named Player of the Tournament during the trophy presentation.
“Without a doubt, of all the Under-19 that I have watched or that I have been part of, this has to be the best in terms of quality of cricket,” said Taibu.
For the past three weeks, some prodigious cricket talent was on show in the tournament co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia and both India and England brought the curtain down in exhilarating fashion. But it was India who had control of the game from the start yesterday after winning the toss and sending England to field.
The tone of the match was already set by the time they finished their innings. Their 411 was the highest score of the tournament and pressure was on the English batters to respond.
Despite losing their opener Aaron George early, with 20 runs on the scoreboard after just four overs, India made a remarkable recovery with a 142-run partnership between captain Ayushs Mhatre (50) and Sooryavanshi.
Sooryavanshi continued to dominate and his 55-ball effort was the second fastest recorded hundred at the Under-19s World Cup this year, behind Australian Will Malajczuk’s 51-ball century against Japan.
India were 200 up in 22 overs and then raced to 250 in 25 overs before Sooryavanshi was finally caught for 175 runs after facing 80 deliveries off the bowling of Manny Lumsden.
The batting prodigy was accompanied by a loud applause as he walked off the pitch.
And for the England players, they should have sighed huge relief as their bowlers were rendered clueless for most of his innings.
“I can’t express what I am feeling but the way we have all been working hard for the last 7-8 months and our support staff who have been with us for a long time and always made sure we are alright, I would like to dedicate the award to them,” said Sooryavanshi after receiving the Player of the Tournament award.
“We weren’t taking too much pressure. We just thought how we had done well in the tournament. We’ll just follow our process and play our natural games.
“The preparation has been good not only during the Asia Cup, but the last 8-9 months. And only the players know how hard we have worked in that period.
I had faith in my skills that I can contribute in big games and today it happened.” England began the chase strongly despite losing the wicket of Joseph Moores early.
Ben Mayes (45) and Ben Dawkins (66) held on into the middle overs but a brief collapse saw them sliding from 142/3 to 177/7, and virtually surrendering the game to the Indians.
But Caleb Falconer helped reduce the margin of defeat with nine fours and seven sixes during his century knock.
England Under-19 captain Thomas Rew conceded Sooryavanshi was the game changer. “I think it’s always going to be tough when a player like Vaibhav gets going.
We were left scratching our heads a little bit.”
