Colts start defence with 90-run win over Lanka

Bloemfontein, January 19

An impressive batting performance, topped by a disciplined bowling, saw defending champions India cruise to a 90-run victory over Sri Lanka in their opening group league encounter of the ICC U-19 World Cup.

Batting first, India scored 297/4, riding on half-centuries from their premier batsmen — opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (59 off 74 balls) and skipper Priyam Garg (56 off 72 balls). There were significant contributions from vice-captain Dhruv Jurel (52) and all-rounder Siddhesh Veer (44 off 27 balls and 2/34 in 6 overs), which took the total close to the 300-run mark. The bowlers then kept the Sri Lanka batsmen in check, bowling them out for 207 in 45.2 overs.

Tyagi breathes fire

Fast bowler Kartik Tyagi (1/27) was the most impressive bowler as he breached the 140-kmph mark repeatedly. The opposition batsmen found his short ball difficult to handle.

Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (2/44) showed good control, not letting the batsmen get away with anything.

Left-arm seamer Akash Singh (2/29) brought the ball back into the right-handers, with rival skipper Nipun Dananjaya (50) being the only batsman, who looked comfortable out there in the middle.

The track was a bit on the slower side as Jaiswal and Divyansh Saxena (23) put on 66 for the opening stand. Jaiswal punished the loose balls with some elegant drives, hitting eight fours. There were no big stands but steady ones that kept the momentum going.

India’s most consistent batsman NT Tilak Verma ran hard between the wickets, adding 46 with Jaiswal before the former was dismissed. Skipper Garg added run-a-ball 59 to the total. Garg, who had three boundaries, was joined by Jurel for a 63-run stand for the fourth wicket that took the score to 232. But credit to Veer, who used the long handle to good effect in a 65-run stand in 7.2 overs with Jurel. Veer hit six fours and one six in an effort that had cheeky scoops and sweep shots as well. — PTI

Brief Scores: India U-19s: 297/4 (Jaiswal 59, Garg 56, Jurel 52*, Veer 44*); Sri Lanka Under-19s: 207 all out (Dananjaya 50, Rasantha 49; Veer 2/34) — PTI