The young guns from Australia replicated the feat of the senior team by winning another final against their Australian counterparts. The bowling might of the Australians was too much for the young Indians to take down. Mahli Beardman stood tall for the Australians with the ball after the batting exploitations from the brilliant left-hander Singh. The Australians finally got the better of the Indians who are a dominant force in the history of youth cricket. MAybe we are in for another decade of Australian domination in world cricket.
Team Lineups
The fervor of youth will be on full display as 18 and 19-year-old Indian cricketers strive for their sixth ICC U-19 World Cup victory against Australia. Last year’s defeat to Australia left Rohit Sharma’s team disheartened, but for Uday Saharan, Sachin Dhas, Musheer Khan, and Saumykumar Pandey, triumphing over Australia would be particularly gratifying.
Skipper Saharan emphasised their focus on the present, steering clear of thoughts of revenge or future outcomes. Australia poses a formidable challenge with players like skipper Hugh Weibgen, opener Harry Dixon, and seamers Tom Straker and Callum Vidler proving their mettle in this tournament.
Australia
- Lachlan Aitken 2. Charlie Anderson 3. Harkirat Bajwa 4. Mahli Beardman 5. Tom Campbell (Cap.) 6. Harry Dixon 7. Ryan Hicks (WK) 8.Sam Konstas 9. Rafael MacMillan 10. Aidan O’Connor 11.Oliver Peake,
India
- Adarsh Singh 2. Arshin Kulkarni 3. Musheer Khan 4. Uday Saharan (cap.) 5. Priyanshu Moliya 6. Sachin Dhas 7. Aravelly Avanish (WK) 8. Murugan Abhishek 9. Raj Limbani 10. Naman Tiwari 1.. Saumy Pandey
Indian captain Uday Saharan won the toss and chose to bowl first. Powell might have taken the decision after inspecting the pitch. The playing surface at the Benoni is not flat at all. There is usually some moisture on the pitch which helps the bowlers early on. The spinners also get some assistance off the pitch as well. The batsmen have to time the ball perfectly to clear the long boundaries at this ground. The average score at this ground is 145. In 18 previous T20I matches that have been played here, eight have been won by the team batting first. In nine matches, the team batting second emerged victorious.
Fixture
The Indian Under-19 team will be vying for their record-extending sixth title when they take on Australia in the final of the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup. The highly anticipated clash will take place at Willowmoore Park in Benoni on February 11. India kickstarted their campaign with a resounding 84-run win over neighbours Bangladesh. They maintained the winning momentum in the following games and reached the final unbeaten. The reigning champions had to struggle to overcome South Africa in the semi-final.
India lost a few early wickets while being in pursuit of a 245-run target. It was captain Uday Saharan and Sachin Dhas who changed the course of the game with a 171-run partnership. India finally secured a two-wicket win in the penultimate over.
Australia, on the other hand, edged past Pakistan in the second semi-final. It was a low-scoring affair where Pakistan managed to set a target of 180 runs. Australia were at 164 runs when they lost their ninth wicket. Callum Vidler successfully took them across the line in the final over.
The pitch at Willowmoore Park has a history of becoming slow in the second innings, assisting the bowlers. Both India and Australia had struggled to chase on this surface in the semi-finals. The wicket in Benoni is expected to remain unchanged in the final. As the team batting first is expected to have the upper hand, the toss will play a vital role in the outcome of the match.
The weather in Benoni is expected to remain overcast on February 11. There is a chance of rain playing spoilsport during the U-19 World Cup final between India and Australia with weather.com predicting 24-39 per cent of precipitation. The temperature could hover around 14 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees Celsius, while the humidity is anticipated to be around 69-87 percent. The wind speed will have been around 15-19 km/h during the 50-over clash.
| Venue | The final game of the 2024 U-19 World Cup was played in Benoni, Cape Province, South Africa. |
| Date | The game started at 2:00 p.m. IST on Sunday, February 11. |
Captaincy & Tactics
In a riveting showdown in Benoni, Australia clinched the Under-19 World Cup title with a stellar display from their formidable four-pronged pace attack, led by the dynamic duo of Callum Vidler and Mahli Beardman, who left the Indian batting lineup in disarray.
Australia’s potent pacers wreaked havoc, dismantling the Indian top order and stifling their chase with sheer pace and aggression. Beardman emerged as the standout performer, scalping three crucial wickets for a miserly 15 runs in his seven-over spell, setting the tone for Australia’s dominant performance.
The victory was also indebted to a pivotal innings by middle-order batsman Harjas Singh, who rose to the occasion with a scintillating knock of 55 runs. Despite enduring a lean patch leading up to the final, Harjas showcased resilience and composure, steering Australia’s innings with authority against India’s formidable spinners.
Fueled by Harjas’s heroics, Australia posted a commanding total of 253 for 7, a target that proved insurmountable for India. The victory marked a historic moment for Australia, as they claimed their first Under-19 World Cup title since 2010, underlining their dominance over India in ICC finals with a remarkable three consecutive wins.
India’s pursuit faltered early on, with opener Adarsh Singh showing valiant resistance with a gritty 47 before succumbing to the relentless pressure exerted by Australia’s pace battery. The Indian top order crumbled under the relentless assault, as Australia’s bowlers maintained control over the proceedings.
Despite a fleeting partnership between Murugan Abhishek and Naman Tiwari, India’s chase never gained momentum, with the required run rate spiraling out of reach. The final blow came in the 44rd over, as Tom Straker’s dismissal of Tiwari ignited jubilant celebrations in the Australian camp, sealing their fourth Under-19 World Cup title triumph.
Australia’s path to victory was paved by Vidler’s early breakthrough, Beardman’s incisive spell, and Harjas’s vital contribution, culminating in a comprehensive triumph over their arch-rivals. The young cricketers showcased exemplary skill, resilience, and determination, heralding a new era of Australian cricketing excellence on the global stage.
Batting Analysis
In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Australia’s exceptional Under-19 World Cup team mirrored the success of their senior counterparts by outclassing India to claim the coveted title of world champions.
Under the astute leadership of Hugh Weibgen, the talented Australian squad delivered a commanding performance at the prestigious venue of Benoni, securing a resounding 79-run victory over the defending champions in a high-stakes final showdown.
Setting a formidable target of 253 runs for victory after a formidable batting display, the Australian team showcased their depth and prowess with a stellar bowling performance led by their “ferocious” quartet of fast bowlers and the strategic spin of Raf MacMillan. Their relentless attack dismantled India’s previously undefeated lineup, restricting them to a total of 174 runs in 43.5 overs at Willowmoore Park.
Notable for their exceptional pace and precision, Australia’s young bowlers, including standout performer Mahli Beardman, who earned the player of the final award for his impressive figures of 3-15 off seven overs, proved to be the difference-makers in the final clash.
The victory marked a historic moment for Australian cricket, as the talented Under-19 team became the fourth from the nation to clinch the prestigious tournament, following in the footsteps of past champions who have gone on to make significant contributions at the international level.
Bolstered by a strong batting performance spearheaded by skipper Hugh Weibgen, along with impactful contributions from Harry Dixon, Harjas Singh, and the composed finisher Ollie Peake, Australia displayed resilience and depth in their pursuit of glory.
Key moments, such as Callum Vidler’s early breakthrough, Beardman’s crucial double breakthroughs, and MacMillan’s vital wickets with his astute spin, highlighted the team’s collective effort and determination to emerge victorious in the intense final showdown.
As the young Australians celebrated their well-deserved triumph, led by the exceptional performances of their rising stars, they showcased a glimpse of the future of Australian cricket, brimming with talent, passion, and a relentless drive for success on the global stage.
Bowling Analysis
In another heartbreaking chapter of World Cup finals, Australia displayed dominance as they handed defending champions India a crushing defeat by a significant margin of 79 runs to clinch their fourth Under-19 World Cup title at Willowmoore Park on a memorable Sunday.
The encounter marked a poignant moment for both teams, with India facing their second consecutive World Cup final loss against Australia, following the defeat of the senior men’s team to Pat Cummins’ side in the 2023 ODI World Cup final just months prior.
Australia’s U19 bowlers set the tone early on in the final, showcasing their skill and precision with two maiden overs, creating a formidable challenge for the Indian batters in their pursuit of a challenging target of 254 runs. Despite India’s highest partnership coming for the ninth wicket, the team faced hurdles as they lost wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings.
In a parallel narrative to their senior counterparts, the Indian U19 team experienced a commendable journey in the tournament, triumphing in every match until the final showdown. Following the defeat, social media platforms were abuzz with praise for the Australian team’s performance, while Indian fans expressed admiration for their own team’s efforts despite the setback.
Amidst the defeat, humorous memes and jokes flooded social media platforms, capturing the playful banter and spirit of sportsmanship amidst the intense competition between the two cricketing nations.
India’s batting display, which had been formidable throughout the tournament, faltered under the pressure of Australia’s pace attack, with only Adarsh Singh standing out with a valiant 47 runs at the top order. Despite efforts from Murugan Abhishek in the lower order, India was eventually dismissed for 174 runs.
The Man of the Match award was rightfully earned by fast bowler Mahli Beardman for his exceptional figures of three for 15, while Raf MacMillan’s off-spin also played a crucial role with three wickets for 41 runs in the final.
Australian captain Hugh Weibgen lauded his team’s bowlers for their pivotal contribution to the victory during the post-match presentation, emphasizing their unity and confidence in executing their roles effectively. Weibgen expressed optimism for the bright futures of his bowlers, acknowledging their potential to go a long way in their cricketing careers with performances like the one showcased in the final.
Fielding Analysis
The West Indies continued their bad run of form with silly fielding mistakes during this match. Nicolas Pooran spilled a chance to dismiss David Warner from behind the stumps. Sherfane Rutherford missed a tough chance to dismiss Josh Inglis early in the innings. However, they eventually got their groove back after holding onto some tough chances that were skied by the batsmen. Nicholas Pooran came back from his stupor to complete two catches. Brandon King, Alzaari Joseph and Rovman Powell also completed fine catches.
Harjas Singh is known for his fielding prowess and 31 year old all-rounder showcased his fielding skills once again. He completed four matches in the game, two of them were fantastic grabs. Weibgen possesses a strunning level of fitness even at this age and the batsman took a sharp diving catch to break up the opening stand. The Australians saved at least 10-15 runs through the commitment shown the outfield.
Key Performances
The difficulties for the five-time champions escalated when Musheer fell victim to a delivery from Mahli Beardman, resulting in his dismissal by chopping the ball onto his stumps in the 13th over. The young pacer from Western Australia then struck a decisive blow by removing India’s captain, Uday Saharan, who had been instrumental in the semi-final victory over South Africa. Saharan’s aggressive drive led to a straightforward catch for Australian skipper Hugh Weibgen, leaving him with just 8 runs to his name.
As the innings progressed, another key player, Sachin Dhas, was stumped off a delivery from Raf MacMillan after contributing only 9 runs to the total, leaving India struggling at 74/4 after 20 overs. While Adarsh Singh held firm at one end, the lack of support from the other Indian batters posed a significant challenge. Priyanshu Moliya labored to 9 runs off 20 deliveries before falling to Charlie Anderson in the 21st over.
Building on his early success, Raf MacMillan continued to make an impact by dismissing Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Aravelly Avanish Rao without scoring, further denting India’s batting lineup.
With the tail-enders at the crease and the pressure mounting, Adarsh resorted to aggressive strokes in an attempt to stabilize the innings. Initially successful with a four and a six off consecutive deliveries against Vidler, Adarsh’s aggressive approach was short-lived as he succumbed to Mahli Beardman’s bowling just nine deliveries later.
Despite their challenges, India exhibited a fighting spirit as Murugan Abhishek, a 19-year-old all-rounder from Hyderabad, rose to the occasion when it mattered most. From a precarious position at 122/8, Abhishek showcased resilience by guiding India to 168/8 with a composed knock of 42 runs from 46 deliveries. However, with the required run rate surging, Abhishek took a risky swing at a delivery from Callum Vidler, resulting in his dismissal in the 41st over.
The tailender Saumy Pandey’s brief stay at the crease ended after just 13 deliveries, as he fell victim to Tom Straker’s bowling, emphasizing the challenges faced by India’s lower order in the final innings.
Turning Point
Limbani dismissed opener Sam Konstas in his second over and thus gave India an early breakthrough after Australia captain Hugh Weibgen won the toss and chose to bat first. Weibgen then put up a steady stand with opener Harry Dixon that brought up 78 runs for the second wicket. Tiwari then came in and dismissed both batters in consecutive overs and India wrestled back control. Harjas Singh then came in and broke out of the poor form that plagued him throughout the tournament with some big hits off the spinners in particular. He scored most of the runs in a 66-run stand with Ryan Hicks off just 68 balls for the fourth wicket before Limbani returned and sent back the latter for 20 off 25. This was the turning point of the match.
Match Result
Australia u-19 won the match by a healthy margin of 79 runs to clinch the World Cup title.
Player of the Match
For his outstanding contribution with the ball, Mahli Beardman won the player of the match award. The young Victorian claimed three wickets for just 15 runs from a right over spell.
Brief Scorecard
| Australia U-19 Total: 253/7 (50 overs) | India U-19 Total: 174/10 (43.5 overs) |
| Harjas Singh 55 (64) | Adarsh Singh 47 (77) |
| Hugh Weibgen 48 (66) | Murugan Abhishek 42 (46) |
| Raj Limbani 3/38 (10 overs) | Mahli Beardman 3/15 (7 overs) |
| Naman Tiwari 2/68 (9 overs) | Raf MacMillan 3/43 (10 overs) |
Match Highlights
Match Wrap-Up
The Australians have caused another heartbreak for the cricket enthusiasts from India. The Indian youths played the best brand of cricket throughout the exciting tournament, but they left the final empty handed. Harjas Singh played an invaluable knock to take Australia to a safe target in the first innings. On the other hand, the Indian batters could not spend enough time at the crease to create problems for the Austrlians. Mahli Beardman’s fiery spell of pace bowling was enough to secure the safe passage for his countrymen towards the world title.
