India loses to Australia in the third consecutive ICC final after finishing second in the U-19 World Cup

In the U-19 World Cup final on Sunday, India lost to Australia by 79 runs due to a misfiring batting lineup just when it needed most.

Australia batted by choice and amassed a robust 253 for seven, forcing India to undertake the tallest chase in a junior World Cup top match.

However, in the decisive stage leading up to victory, Uday Saharan’s team collapsed to 174 all out as the unrelenting Australian bowlers, spearheaded by the ferocious Mahli Beardman (3/15) and the cunning off-spinner Raf MacMillan (3/43), would not allow them any breathing room.

In a manner, the disappointment of losing to India in two championship matches in 2012 and 2018 was also forgotten as Australia won their fourth U19 title and first since 2010.

This outcome is often seen as a continuation of Australia’s victory over India in the senior World Cup held in Ahmedabad last year.

Australia’s triumphant march began when pacer Callum Vidler dismissed Indian opener Arshin Kulkarni, giving stumper Ryan Hicks a lead.

From then on, India just could not put together any significant partnerships as its front-line batsmen, such as captain Saharan (8), Musheer Khan (who was given a reprieve on zero), and Sachin Dhas (9), left without really contributing much.

With a ball that was just a little bit low, Beardman got through Musheer’s (22) defense. Saharan, the tournament’s top run scorer, was lured by the pacer’s slightly wide delivery on the off-stump, but Hugh Weibgen caught his cut at point.

With speed and bounce, Beardman then added the wicket of opener Adarsh Singh, who scored the maximum for India that day with 47 from 77 balls.

Today, MacMillan, Australia’s lone spinner, was too cunning for the Indian batsmen to handle, even if they could not handle the antagonism of Beardman, a former student of the great Dennis Lillee.

After coming on in the 20th over, MacMillan got rid of Dhas with his first delivery after Hicks made a simple catch behind the stumps.

India’s hopes were severely damaged when the free-flowing Dhas were removed since they were down to 68 for four at that point.

Later on, the muscular office claimed the wickets of Raj Limbani and Aravelly Avanish as well, putting an end to any potential late Indian comeback.

Murugan Abhishek (42, 45b) made a valiant effort to add 46 runs for the ninth wicket, the most of the innings, with Naman Tiwari, but the job proved to be too much for him to do.

But the Australian batsmen deserve some of the credit for this victory as well.

While no one scored a particularly high total, they all chipped in around Harjas Singh (55, 64b, 3×4, 3×6) to give the Antipodeans a respectable total to hold against blows from Indian pacers Limbani (3/38) and Tiwari (2/63).

In order to prevent the Australians from getting off to a fast start, as they have often done in this competition, Limbani, who worked up a nice clip off the pitch, bowled opener Sam Konstas with a wonderful in-coming ball.

However, Harry Dixon (42, 56 balls) and captain Weibgen (48, 66 balls) gave the Australians some security.

In fact, Dixon got off to a scorching start, hitting left-arm pacer Tiwari (2/63) for 4, 6, 4 in the first over. However, he calmed down when he was with Weibgen.

Their second-wicket partnership of 78 runs in 18.1 overs was characterized by their ability to neutralize the Indian spinners, who acted as a formidable barrier throughout the exhibition.

Despite the lack of huge smashes, Dixon and Weibgen’s singles and twos were enough to advance the scoreboard.

Saharan delivered the ball to Tiwari, who was substituted after a costly first session, just as the stand was coasting along.

In ideal manner, Tiwari responded to his leader’s request by dispatching a set Weibgen, whose drive away from the corpse was at one point snuggled in Musheer’s hands.

Two overs later, the left-arm fast got rid of Dixon to get India back into the contest. Back then, the Australians were 99 for 3. However, to keep their side afloat, Harjas and Ryan Hicks (20) scored 66 runs for the fourth wicket in 11.2 overs.

Harjas had a difficult start, but off-spinner Priyanshu Moliya’s two consecutive sixes and fours provided him the much-needed confidence.

From then on, the left-hander was a different player entirely. He countered Abhishek’s off-breaks with a succession of sweeps and slog-sweeps, two of which found deep seats in the fans for maximums.

Harjas reached his first fifty of the match with a four off Tiwari to long-off, but he was not able to hold on long as he was ruled leg-before after trying again to sweep left-arm spinner Saumey Pandey.

However, Charlie Anderson(13) and Oliver Peake(46 not out off 43 balls) contributed a valuable 34 runs for the seventh wicket, helping the Australians to a respectable total.