2018 Under-19 World Cup Finals: India vs Australia, 5 talking points 

High on confidence, the Indian u-19 team took the Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui in the finals of the World Cup against Australia. The squad, coming into the grand summit after going undefeated throughout the event, were on the quest for their fourth World trophy at the junior level.

Guided by yet another all-round performance, the colts emerged victorious by 8 wickets after the target of 216, set by the Aussies, hardly proved a challenge for the Prithvi Shaw-led side.

Here are five talking points from the match.

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#1 A fighting partnership between Jonathan Merlo and Param Uppal

After Australia had been reduced to 59-3, it was imperative that the Aussies stitched together a partnership, which would not only provide solidity to the line-up, but would also help post a competitive target on the board.

Jonathan Merlo and Param Uppal combined to notch up a 75-run partnership, which frustrated the rivals. After Uppal’s departure, with the score reading 134, Merlo and Nathan McSweeney helped Australia with a 49-run partnership for the fifth wicket, but a flurry of wickets in the end overs meant that Australia could only notch up 216.

#2 A brilliant spell of bowling by India in the middle overs

After pacer Ishan Porel sent back Jack Edwards and Max Bryant within the first ten overs, the middle order came together in the hope of gluing the innings. When Captain Jason Sangha fell for a 24-ball 13, Uppal and Merlo raised hopes of a fighting total.

However, once Uppal was dismissed off the bowling of Anukul Roy, the opponents were unable to fight through and eventually succumbed to the Indian bowlers. They lost their last 5 wickets for 33 runs, with Shiva Singh and Roy scalping two wickets each.

The collapse swayed the momentum of the match in India’s favour and the Kangaroos could never really recover after this.

#3 A World Cup final hundred from Manjot Kalra

With Shaw and Shubman Gill stealing the limelight in the batting department for India, youngster Manjot Kalra was often thrust into the sidelines, even though he had pitched in with crucial knocks in the tournament.

But with the departure of Shaw, the Delhi player stepped up when the stage demanded and held the other end up. Displaying maturity, first in his 60-run partnership with Gill and then in his partnership with Harvik Desai, the opener raced away to a memorable hundred in just 102 deliveries.

The knock, with eight boundaries and three sixes, took the game far away from the Australians reach and it was only befitting that he replicated Unmukt Chand’s feats, who too had scored a hundred against the same team in 2012.

#4 Param Uppal's miserly spell

With Ryan Headley, Zak Evans, Lloyd Pope and Will Sutherland going for over 6 runs an over, none of the faster bowlers could prove a threat to the Indian line-up. It was only Param Uppal’s spinning deliveries that could stood out, with his outswing and his flighted deliveries troubling the Indian top-order.

He got Gill out to a peach of a delivery. The ball beat the inside edge after pitching outside off, which then went on to castle his off-stump. The batsman was nowhere near the pitch off the ball and just when it was feared that a collapse could follow, Kalra stood up to prevent any further jitters.

#5 India becomes the most successful u-19 team in history

With Australia and India both having won the u-19 title on three occasions, it was a big battle

India won the tournament for the first time in 2000, under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif and later won in 2008, with Virat Kohli captaining the side. They won the tournament for the third time in 2012, under the leadership of Unmukt Chand.

Australia, on the other hand, were the first winners of the title, way back in 1988 and since then, went on to take the trophy in 2002 and 2010. With this triumph, India has become the most successful team in the competition.