India Under-19 annihilate Australia to clinch tri-nation series in Darwin
After MS Dhoni scripted India's thrilling win in Port-of Spain, the under-19 team destroyed their Australian counterparts Down Under. India's bowlers ran amok as the hosts were shot out for 75 in less than 25 overs.
Less than eight hours after Mahendra Singh Dhoni scripted a thrilling one-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Thursday, India's under-19 team added to the glory with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory against Australia in the final of the three-nation championship in Darwin. New Zealand were the third team in the competition.
India's bowlers fashioned victory with the pace quartet of Abhimanyu Lamba, Chama Milind, Deepak Hooda and Kuldeep Yadav knocking off the Aussie batsmen in less than 25 overs. Australia were put into bat at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin and after a decent start, lost wickets in a hurry.
Left-arm seamer Milind gave India the breakthrough in the eighth over and the floodgates opened. Opener Matthew Short was Australia's top scorer with 25 and the next best was a 13 from Jake Doran. Player of the Match Hooda finished with 3 for 22 while Lamba, Milind and Yadav picked up two wickets each.
India were 11 for one wicket in the second over and were in more trouble, losing their second in the sixth over, but opener Ankus Bains and Sanju Samson remained unbeaten on 40 and 20, respectively, to see India home with 207 balls to spare. Batsman Vijay Zol was the Player of the Series.
Australia are currently preparing for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup, to be held in Dubai in February 2014. The next test for the Aussie U19s ahead of next year's World Cup will be an U19 quad series against India, South Africa and Zimbabwe in India during September.
Brief scores: Australia U-19 75 all out in 24.4 overs. India U-19 76/2 in 15.3 overs. India won by eight wickets.