Image Credit- ICC
In the opening match of the Super Sixes phase of the
U-19 World Cup, India defeated New Zealand by a massive 214 runs thanks to a
brilliant knock by Musheer Khan, who hammered his second century in three
innings and then finished with figures of 2 for 10 off his 3.1 overs. India
moved one step closer to securing a semi-final position in the tournament with
their third straight victory of more than 200 runs.
Sent in to bat, India amassed 295 for 8 in their 50
overs, fueled by 126-ball 131 from Musheer and 52 from Adarsh Singh. Raj
Limbani and left-arm spinner Saumy Pandey then dominated New Zealand, bowling
them out for 81 in Bloemfontein after Pandey concluded with 4 for 19 off his
ten overs. In the U-19 World Cup’s history, New Zealand’s score was the third
lowest.
With three changes, New Zealand excluded their leading
wicket-taker, Matt Rowe. After scoring a century in the previous game, Arshin
Kulkarni attempted to continue with a flick past square leg, but was unable to
continue. Rushing down the track, he attempted to fend off a lengthy Mason
Clarke delivery, but was unable to do so, managing a top edge that flew to deep
third.
Musheer got going right away after scoring 118 and 73
in the previous two games. He went to double figures swiftly, first setting up
a ramp off Clarke over the keeper’s head and then unleashing a blistering cover
drive. In the meantime, Adarsh made a few brilliant drives. India defeated New Zealand 61 to 1,
overcoming their powerplay scores of 45 for 2, 38 for 1, and 40 for 0 thus far
in the competition. For the first ten overs, at least, New Zealand’s ground
fielding was likewise subpar.
Adarsh took Oscar Jackson for two fours in an over as
New Zealand kept leaking runs. He then reached his second fifty of the
tournament off 56 balls with a clip through square leg for three. But shortly
after, almost against the flow of play, the left-hander fell, slicing
legspinner Zac Cumming to point, ending a run-a-ball partnership that had
reached 77 runs.
When Captain Uday Saharan entered, the surface began
to turn, but he was unable to maintain the same pace. Even though the Indian
captain could only muster 34 off 57 balls, Musheer persisted. With a reverse
sweep, the 18-year-old breezed past the 90s and scored his century with a
single to deep midwicket. After Shikhar Dhawan in 2004, Musheer became only the
second Indian player to score multiple hundreds in a single U-19 World Cup.
If New Zealand had any momentum going into their
second innings, it was gone in Limbani’s opening over. He broke the first ball
defence of opener Tom Jones with a nip-backer that left his stumps in disarray
during an episode of inswinging mastery. The ball struck Reddy in the front
after he shouldered it arms first, but the umpire determined that it had
crossed the stumps. He did not, however, survive long as New Zealand was
knocked to 0 for 2 in the opening over, playing all around a length ball that tailed
back in fast. After Pandey’s arm ball cleaned up Lachlan Stackpole, that turned
into a 13 for 3.
It was a procession thereon with none of the New
Zealand batters picking any of the bowlers. It was fitting that Musheer ended
the game, taking out Ewald Schreuder, as New Zealand were taken down
comprehensively.