A freak victory over England in the quarterfinal, thanks to Lloyd Pope’s record haul of 8/35 and a six-wicket thrashing of Afghanistan may have taken Australia into the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup final, but the last hurdle against India at Mount Maunganui may just prove to be too much for the young Jason Sangha’s side.
Completely aware of India U-19’s rampant run in this World Cup – victories by 10 wickets while chasing or a minimum by 100 runs when defending – Sangha on Friday chose to stick to how confident Australia are rather than acknowledging India’s superiority.
“They have played good cricket, so have we at the moment. It’s a grand finale, a different contest. There’s different pitch, definitely some nerves in their team as well,” Sangha said, recalling Australia’s win over England in which they had reduced them from 47/0 to 96 all-out.
Echoing coach Ryan Harris’ deduction that the Indian middle-order has not been challenged enough in this competition, Sangha hoped for a ‘couple of quick wickets’ in order to have a better day against India compared to their last outing. The Prithvi Shaw-led side had hammered Australia by 100 runs at the same venue earlier in the tournament, but Sangha chose to look at the positives.
“They probably haven’t been tested too much; especially their middle-order. They have not seen our side now compared to the first game, we are a different side playing good cricket. Plus, they have not seen our two quick bowlers (Ryan Hadley and Zak Evans) they didn’t play in the first game,” Sangha said.
When asked if Australia have specific plans to stop the Indians, Sangha said, “India are a good team, so are we. We have plans for some of their batsmen. We have a couple of ideas but when you are actually out there on the field, it could be totally different sometimes.”
Unstoppable India
Shubman Gill (341 runs) and Anukul Roy (12 wickets) have been at the forefront of India’s march into the final, but it is the opening pair of Shaw and Manjot Kalra who have been devastating.
With stands of 180 (v Australia), 67* (v Papua New Guinea), 155* (v Zimbabwe), 16 (v Bangladesh) and 89 (v Pakistan), Shaw and Kalra have shown impeccable skills at the top.
Following them is Gill, who has scored at least a half-century every time he has come out to bat. With scores of 63, 90*, 86 and a splendid 102* versus Pakistan in the semifinal, Gill is making this tournament his own.
Batting has been for long considered India’s forte, but what has taken the opponents by surprise is the searing pace of Indian troika in Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi and Ishan Porel. Making most of conditions, the Indian fast bowlers have turned up the heat.
“Good on him”, said Sangha over Nagarkoti’s 145kmph scorchers. “It does not bother us”.
Australia are wary
Unlike India, who have a player each in the list of top five run-scorers as well as wicket-takers, Australia do not even have any in top 10. But Sangha remains defiant.
When asked whether Australia are the ‘underdogs’ for Saturday’s final, Sangha replied, “I don’t feel we are the underdogs, or India the favourites. Whoever plays the best will win.”