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HARARE: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s imperious knock, backed by a disciplined bowling effort, powered India to a 100-run victory over England in the U19 World Cup final here at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.
Set a daunting target of 412, England were bowled out for 311 in 40.2 overs.
With this, India is now cut above the rest of the teams at the junior level, winning the trophy for the record sixth time.
Notably, the final against India was India’s 11th appearance in the summit clash of the U19 World Cup.
England were jolted early in a steep chase, with India bowlers removing the opener Joseph Moores for 17 in the fifth over.
After an early blow, Ben Mayes and Ben Dawkins added a 74-run stand for the second wicket to put the chase back on track.
The pair brought the team’s total to 93 at the end of the 13 overs. However, Indian bowlers struck back, sending back set batter Mayes. He made 45 from 28 with the help of two sixes and seven fours.
Despite the wicket, England progressed with another partnership between Thomas Rew and Ben Dawkins.
The stand eventually culminated in the 18th over in the form of Dawkins wicket, who made 66 from 56, striking seven fours and two sixes.
After the wicket, India got a foothold on the match and never allowed England to make a comeback in the final. Consequently, the English side slumped to 177-7 from 142-3 in 22 overs.
With the required run rate rising, England were too much behind the game despite a valiant stand between Calob Falconer and James Minto.
The pair added 92 and demonstrated a fight-back, but the target proved too much for them. Falconer played an eye-catching knock, scoring a sublime innings.
The all-rounder hit seven sixes and nine fours in his 115 from 67 balls before getting caught in the 40th over.
For India, RS Ambrish was the top-wicket taker, picking up three wickets. Deepesh Devendran and Kanishk Chouhan took a brace.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, India racked up 411-9 in their 50 overs, thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 175 from just 80 balls.
After losing Aaron George for nine in the third over, Sooryavanshi was joined by skipper Ayush Mhatre, adding up a 142-run stand for the second wicket partnership.
The pair took the team’s India total to 162 from 20 in 19 overs. Ayush Mhatre departed after scoring 53 off 51 with the help of seven fours and two sixes.
Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi carried on and hit towering sixes to complete his record-shattering century.
He was involved in a partnership for a quick-fire 89 run stand off just 39, powering his side into a dominant position.
The left-hander’s innings finally ended when India were 261 in 25.3 overs. He made 175 from 80 balls, pepped with 15 sixes and 1`5 fours.
India eventually ended their innings on a massive score with some other notable contributions from the middle-order batter, notably Kanishk Chouhan, who struck three fours and a six on his way to 37 from 20 balls.
For England, James Minto remained the stand out bowler with threee wickets to his name.
READ: Sooryavanshi breaks Babar’s record with 175 against England
