Coolidge (Antigua): Just days after recovering from COVID, skipper Yash Dhull and his deputy Shaikh Rasheed powered India to the Under-19 World Cup final with a thumping 96-run victory over Australia.
Having contracted coronavirus in the West Indies, Dhull and Rasheed were forced to miss two of India’s group league games. On Wednesday, the two batsmen were on song as they rescued the team from a precarious start after Dhull had won the toss and opted to bat first.
The two came together after both openers were dismissed and the Indian team tottered at 37 for 2 in the 13th over.
Dhull went on to score a run-a-ball 110 and Rasheed made 94, with the duo adding 204 runs for the third wicket.
India ended with 290 for 5, thanks to some big hitting by the middle order.
Australia lost an early wicket and struggled to keep pace with the required rate in their chase of 291.
Australia folded up for 194 in 41.5 overs as left-arm spinners Vicky Oswal (3/52)and Nishant Sandhu (2/25) denied the batsmen any liberty. Left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar was an ideal foil, bagging 2 wickets.
It was India’s fourth straight entry to the U-19 World Cup final, and eighth overall.
Scores: India U-19 290/5 in 50 overs. Australia U-19 194 in 41.5 overs.
Result: India U-19 won by 96 runs.
