India outplayed an under-prepared New Zealand in their third game by seven wickets in Bulawayo to remain unbeaten in the group stage of the ICC U-19 World Cup. They had already confirmed passage to the Super Six stage.
RS Ambrish (4/29) and Henil Patel (3/23) shared seven wickets as New Zealand collapsed to 135. The Queens Sports Club pitch changed dramatically in the second innings and looked an absolute belter as India gunned down the target inside 14 overs. Ayush Mhatre, who was in desperate need of runs, top-scored with a 27-ball 53 batting at No. 3.
A wet outfield initially delayed the start, cutting the match to 47 overs, and after a prolonged rain interruption, it was further reduced to a 37-over contest.
India made a couple of changes, bringing in Aaron George and Mohamed Enaan. With Deepesh Devendran rested, Ambrish was given the new ball for the first time in the tournament. Generally, a middle-overs operator, he made the opportunity count. There was assistance on offer, and the right-arm seamer put the ball in the right areas, striking twice in his first spell. Henil kept things tight and was rewarded with the wicket of Aryan Mann, as the opener struggled throughout his innings.
New Zealand were reduced to 17 for 3 when a spell of rain arrived. After the resumption, India struck twice almost immediately to leave New Zealand reeling at 22 for 5. Ambrish cleaned up Marco Alpe with an in-swinging yorker. The moisture helped the pacers and also aided the spinners.
Khilan Patel got the ball to skid in his first over and removed Snehith Reddy. However, as the innings progressed, conditions improved for the batters and the ball softened. Jacob Cotter and Jaskaran Sandhu steadied the innings with a 37-run stand, halting New Zealand’s slide, but it was the 53-run partnership for the eighth wicket that ultimately carried them beyond the 100-run mark.
Callum Samson anchored the lower-order with an unbeaten 37, while Selwin Sanjay chipped in with a valuable 28. The latter was undone by an off-cutter from Ambrish, who showcased his variations as well. Henil, in his second spell, picked up two more to complete a three-wicket haul. Enaan and Kanish Chouhan claimed one wicket each.
India experimented with their batting line-up, promoting George to open alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The team management wanted to give George some game time after his recovery from an elbow injury. The right-hander dispatched an overpitched delivery for six before being outfoxed by Mason Clarke’s off-cutter.
Mhatre showed no signs of rustiness. The change in position worked in his favour as he smashed his first fifty of the tournament. After seeing off a couple of overs, Mhatre and Sooryavanshi plundered 17 runs from Flynn Morey’s over. The next three overs produced runs in double digits, with both batters effectively dashing New Zealand’s hopes by striking big between overs five and eight.
A hard-length delivery from Sandhu denied Sooryavanshi a fifty. Sanjay was hit for two sixes by Mhatre before the off-spinner induced a false shot to dismiss the Indian skipper. Vihaan Malhotra and Vedant Trivedi came together to take the team through to victory.
With their first two games washed out, New Zealand looked a side short of match practice. India, on the other hand, played their best game of the tournament so far. Three wins in three games see them head into the Super Six brimming with confidence.
Brief scores: New Zealand 135 in 36.2 overs (Callum Samson 37 not out; RS Ambrish 4/29) lost to India 130/3 in 13.3 overs (Ayush Mhatre 53; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 40) by 7 wickets via DLS method.
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