India U19 captain Ayush Mhatre explained how he countered New Zealand U19’s short-ball ploy to rediscover his form, smashing a quickfire fifty in the team’s seven-wicket win at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
Mhatre had registered two low scores in the first two games of the tournament against the USA and Bangladesh. In both matches, he was dismissed by the short ball. In the first game, he got out while attempting a hook shot, and in the next, the right-handed batter failed to keep the ball down against a rising delivery.
Batting first, New Zealand could only manage to post 135 in a match that was reduced to 37 overs. A small target gave the Indian batters the license to go after the bowling.
“Basically, I just wanted to see the ball and play,” Mhatre said after the match. “The ball was coming on to the bat really well, so it was a simple plan. (On New Zealand’s plans) Yeah, they came in with the plan to bowl bouncers, I think. So I was ready for that.”
The Ayush Mhatre-led side ended the group stage with three consecutive wins in the U-19 World Cup and will now head into the Super Six with momentum behind them. However, Mhatre does not want his teammates to become complacent.
“(On the next stage) The coaches are also saying that we’re getting some lovely batting, the boys are really confident and not overconfident. That’s why I’m really happy with them,” Mhatre added.
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