Best Images from the U19 World Cup Final - Sarfaraz's ramp shot, Calypso dances and tears from Indians

West Indies U19 narrowly trumped favourites India U19 in the final of the World Cup on Sunday, by a margin of 5 wickets and 3 balls to spare. Despite the scales being tipped this way and that throughout the match, India ended up having too few runs to defend despite a superlative bowling effort.Sarfaraz Khan carried on his great touch, already having achieved legendary status in the U19 circuit. Among the Indian bowlers, Mayank Dagar’s spin was very impressive and brought back Indian into the game at a crucial stage.Finally, however, there were tears from the Indians and dancing from the Caribbeans. The best frames captured in the course of the match:

#1 Teams sing anthems before the match

India went into the final on the back of a long unbeaten streak, while West Indies’ march to the final was already marred by a controversy about Mankading. The two nations were meeting each other in a major final for the first time after the famous 1983 World Cup match.

#2 Alzarri Joseph cleans up top order

West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl first – a judicious decision as it would turn out. On the green pitch, the Windies bowlers terrorised the Indian top order like their counterparts from past generations.

Captain Ishan Kishan scored his fifth single-digit score of the tournament, summing up what has been a very disappointing show from him in the World Cup.

His wicket was taken by Alzarri Joseph, who was responsible for the wickets of India’s top 3, and whose new ball spell reduced India to 27/3.

#3 Sarfaraz ramps it up

Sarfaraz Khan was India’s lone shining light in the World Cup final, scoring a composed 51, which took him to second place in the runscorers’ list for the entire tournament. Despite coming in to bat with his team in trouble at 27/3, Sarfaraz showed a lot of courage and composure.

He even played the ramp shot to good effect in his innings, a surprising show of confidence.

#4 Sarfaraz keeps losing partners

Sarafaraz Khan was playing a determined innings on the big stage, but the problem was that he could not get a single partner to stick on with him. Batsmen Washington Sundar and Arman Jaffer left soon; all-rounders Mahipal Lomror and Mayank Dagar stuck around for a little longer, but the bulk of the scoring shots had to come from Sarfaraz’s bat.

#5 Avesh and Khaleel take early wickets

After India had finished their innings at a modest total of 145, there were hopes that the events of the 1983 World Cup would indeed be repeated.

Life was injected into the match when both the Windies openers were sent back into the hut by India’s pacers.

#6 Hetmyer-Carty put up dogged resistance

Shimron Hetmyer and Keacy Carty blocked the Indian counter-attack after the two early wickets. The scoring rate dipped as the bowlers piled the pressure, but the duo brought up a 39-run partnership, the biggest partnership of the match till then.

It was not very fluent batting, nor did it look very assured, but it got the job done. West Indies were in the driver’s seat again.

#7 Dagar spins India back into game

With the match slipping away from India, spinner Mayank Dagar was introduced into the attack. One of the breakthrough stars of this tournament, Dagar claimed his third consecutive three-wicket haul, and it could not have been any better timed.

Three quick wickets, including the scalp of captain Hetmyer, reduced the Windies to 77/5 in 29 overs, and the match looked in the balance yet again.

#8 Man of the Match Carty

The heroes with the bat for the West Indies in the final were Keacy Carty, who scored his maiden international fifty, and No.7 batsman Keemo Paul. After Dagar’s loopy spin had pegged back the Windies, the two of them put on 69 runs for the sixth wicket.

It was the highest partnership of the match, and it was enough to win the match, with three balls to spare.

#9 Chestrolls and calypso

As the winning runs were hit, the Windies team raced onto the field – the cricket team with the poorest administrative board had beaten the team with the richest board.

Players broke out in impromptu jigs – Gidron Pope and Shamar Springer among those who were seen dancing their heart out. The underdogs had won, even after it had looked after the Dagar-charge as if they had scuffed their chance.

#10 Heartbreak for young Indians

As Captain Ishan Kishan said in the post-match presentation ceremony, his bowling side did nothing wrong in the final. They only had 145 runs to defend, but they made every Windies run seem like a major event.

Avesh Khan and Khaleel Ahmed did their job with the new ball throughout the World Cup, and Mayank Dagar, Mahipal Lomror and Washington Sundar chipped in with good overs for spin.