ICC Under-19 World Cup | Indian pacers hand Australia 100-run defeat in tournament opener

Indian skipper Prithvi Shaw won the toss and decided to bat first after seeing the lack of grass on the surface. The decision seemed to have reaped rich dividends as Shaw and Manjot Kalra clearly frustrated the Australians, posting a mammoth 180-run partnership for the opening wicket. Shaw showcased his strokeplay and punished all the wide outside off balls with neat drives and back-foot punches. When the pacers finally corrected their line by bowling straight, he lofted them down the ground for big hits. The Indian skipper fell in the 30th over, just six short of his hundred. Kalra, too, couldn't get to his century, falling 14 short when India's score just reached 200. After their dismissal, handy contributions from Shubhman Gill and lower down the order batsmen propelled the total to 328. 

Chasing 329 was always going to be an uphill task for the Australian team thanks to the menacing reputation of Indian pacers, and Shivam Mavi stayed true to the reputations by consistently clocking more than 140 kmph. Jack Edwards kept Australia in the match with steady batting in the middle overs and took them to 145 for 2 in 30 overs, but the pendulum swung in India’s favour when Kamlesh Nagarkoti started showing his worth by moving the ball in both ways and his persistence told as Austin Waugh fell in all sorts of trouble before ultimately finding the edge. The game was almost decided by then and it was just an opportunity for the Indian bowlers to add to their tally. Australia finally folded up for a paltry 228 runs in 42.5 overs handing the three-time champions a 100-run victory.