Australia registered the highest total ever in the history of the Under-19 World Cup finals on Sunday. The Hugh Weibgen-led side posted 253 for 7 in 50 overs with Harjas Singh top-scoring with a 64-ball 55 while the likes of Harry Dixon (42), skipper Hugh Weibgen (48) and all-rounder Oliver Peake (46*) made notable contributions.
Australia shattered a 26-year-old record for the highest total in the Under-19 World Cup final. They surpassed the previous best score of 242/3, set by England against New Zealand in the 1998 edition of the tournament. The Kiwis (241/6 vs ENG in 1998) stand third on the list, followed by Pakistan (230/9 vs WI in 2004) and India (227/4 vs AUS in 2012).
If Uday Saharan & Co. manage to finish the chase of 254 successfully, they will not only edge past the Aussies to set a new milestone but also better their previous best which came in 2012, under the leadership of Unmukt Chand.
Earlier, Indian pacers Raj Limbani and Naman Tiwari struck timely blows but Australia still managed to post a competitive total against the defending champions. The former provided an early breakthrough, cleaning up opener Sam Konstas to deny the Aussies a quick start but they found stability through the partnership forged between Dixon and skipper Weibgen for the second wicket.
There were no big hits but Dixon and Weibgen managed to push the scoreboard forward with those singles and twos without taking any undue risks. Just as the stand was coasting along, the Indian captain threw the ball to Tiwari, who was withdrawn after an expensive first spell.
Tiwari answered his leader’s call in the perfect fashion getting rid of a set Weibgen, whose drive away from the body nestled in the hands of Musheer Khan at point. The left-arm quick dismissed Dixon two overs later to bring India back into the game.
The Aussies were 99 for three then. But Harjas and Ryan Hicks (20) added 66 runs in 11.2 overs for the fourth wicket to keep their team’s innings going. Singh completed his first fifty of the tournament with a four off Tiwari to long-off but failed to stay longer as another attempt to sweep left-arm spinner Saumey Pandey saw him getting adjudged leg-before.
Limbani returned to dismiss Anderson but the Aussies still managed to reach a healthy total as they made 66 off the final 10 overs.
(With Agency Inputs)
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