Young middle-order batter Vihaan Malhotra showed admirable composure to rediscover his touch and compile a fine century, while Abhigyan Kundu extended his sublime run of form as India stormed to a commanding 204-run victory over Zimbabwe in their opening Super Six match of the U-19 World Cup here on Tuesday.
India, after an all-win group-stage campaign in which they emphatically defeated the USA, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, continued their aggressive brand of cricket to pile up a mammoth 352 for 8.
The innings was anchored by Malhotra’s cautious yet confident unbeaten 109 (107 balls, 7×4) while Kundu chipped in with a fluent 61 (62 balls, 5×4, 1×6), as the hapless Zimbabwe bowlers were taken apart with alarming ease.
India’s pace-bowling duo didn’t let up, as RS Ambrish (2-19) and Henil Patel (1-25) bowled the first nine overs in tandem to completely overwhelm the Zimbabwean batters, reducing them to 24 for 3 by the ninth over.
Zimbabwe were eventually bundled out for 148 in 37.4 overs, giving India a superb start to their Super Six campaign. India carried four points into the Super Six, having beaten New Zealand and Bangladesh, the other teams to have qualified. Since USA didn’t qualify, India’s points weren’t carried over.
Skipper Ayush Mhatre (3-14) bowled his part-time off-breaks to run through the late-order, completing the annihilation, while left-arm seamer Udhav Mohan also chipped in with three wickets.
Brief scores
India U-19 352-8 (V Malhotra 109*, A Kundu 61, V Sooryavanshi 52; T Chimugoro 3-49) beat Zimbabwe U-19 148 all out in 37.4 overs (L Chiwaula 62; A Mhatre 3-14, U Mohan 3-20) by 204 runs
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