India colts on a roll, Gill stars in 10-wkt win over Zimbabwe

Mount Maunganui, Jan 19 

India routed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in their third match at the ICC U-19 World Cup here today. The Prithvi Shaw-led team, which had sealed a quarterfinal spot with back-to-back wins against Australia and Papua New Guinea, produced another professional performance to end the league stage unbeaten and on top in Group B.

Such has been India’s dominance in the group stage that they recorded two 10-wicket victories, against Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe, and an astounding 100-run win over Australia. England are the only other team to have recorded two back-to-back 10-wicket wins in the U-19 World Cup; they achieved the feat in 2008.

The Zimbabwe batsmen seemed clueless against left-arm spinners Anukul Roy (4/20) and Abhishek Sharma (2/22) and folded up for 154 in 48.1 overs. They were 110/3 at one stage but lost their last seven wickets for 44 runs.

Rahul Dravid-coached India chased down the small target with ridiculous ease as Shubman Gill (90* off 59 balls) and Harvik Desai (56* off 73) took the team home in just 21.4 overs.

“Bowlers again did a really good job, batsmen as well,” said India captain Prithvi Shaw. “We are looking forward to the quarters. We have got a six-day break before that, we will practise well and ensure we bring our ‘A’ game in the knockouts.”

Shaw did not open today, letting the other batsmen spend time in the middle. Desai, who was one of the two changes in the team alongside Riyag Parag, made the opportunity count with a solid half-century.

Gill, on the other hand, was in devastating form as he smashed 14 fours and a six en route his second half-century. Gill fittingly hit the winning boundary, a straight drive. “It was a pretty good wicket to bat on. We just capitalised on the start we got and I just tried to play straight. Coach told me to go out and be impressive,” said Gill.

Earlier, Roy ran through the Zimbabwe middle-order, bowling a wicket-to-wicket line.

Australia, Pak in quarters 

Meanwhile, Australia and Pakistan also secured their spots in the quarterfinals with wins over Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka, respectively. While Australia thumped Papua New Guinea by 311 runs to move into Super League quarterfinals from Group B, alongside toppers India, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka to move into the next round.

U-19 world cup

BRIEF SCORES 

• Zimbabwe: 154 all out (Milton Shumba 36; Anukul Roy 4/20); India: 155 for no loss in 21.4 overs (Shubman Gill 90*, Harvik Desai 56*). 
•  Australia: 370/8 (Nathan McSweeney 156, Jason Sangha 88, Param Uppal 61); Papua New Guinea: 59 in 24.5 overs (Jason Ralston 7/15) 
• Sri Lanka: 188 all out (Jehan Daniel 53; Suleman Shafqat 3/29); Pakistan 190/7 in 43.3 overs (Ali Zaryab 59; Thisaru Rashmika 3/47) 

— PTI