India got off to a fine start in their U-19 World Cup campaign with a comprehensive 84-run victory over Bangladesh in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Opener Adarsh Singh (76), skipper Uday Saharan (64) and left-arm orthodox Samy Pandey (4/24) were the architects of this win as India dismissed their opponents for 167 in 45.5 overs after posting a competitive 251/7.
The going wasn’t too good for India initially after they were put in, losing the other opener Arshin Kulkarni and No.3 Musheer Khan with ony 31 on board in the eighth over. But then, Adarsh and captain Saharan dug in and scripted a crucial 116-run partnership for the third wicket that provided India the platform for a big total.
Bangladesh struck back with the dismissals of both set batters, reducing India’s scoring rate. India were in danger of falling short of even 250 but fortunately, keeper-batter Aravelly Avanish (23 off 17 balls) and Sachin Dhas’ unbeaten 20-ball 26 got some quick runs which ensured India did get past the 250 mark.
That Bangladesh gave away 23 extras also helped India with some bonus runs. India’s bowlers too bowled quite a few wides early on that enabled Bangladesh to be
well placed at 38/0 in the seventh over.
However, Pandey’s double strike pegged Bangladesh back to 41/3 in the 10th over and they just couldn’t recover from thereon. That, even after Ariful Islam (41) and Mohammad Shihab James’ (54) 77-run fifth-wicket stand.
Brief scores: India U-19 251/7 in 50 ovs. (Adarsh Singh 76, Uday Saharan 64; Maruf Mridha 5/43). Bangladesh U-19 167 in 45.5 ovs (MS James 54; S. Pandey 4/24). India U-19 won by 84 runs.
