ICC Under-19 World Cup, Final: Hits and Misses

India lifted the under-19 World Cup for a record fourth time on Saturday (February 3), when they beat Australia by 8 wickets at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.

Prithvi Shaw and his side asserted absolute dominance in the World Cup from the very first game, and their strong performance in the final was only a testament to the fact that they were head and shoulders above the rest of the teams throughout the tournament.

#5 Hit: Manjot Kalra

After making a string of 40-plus scores in the shadows while Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw stole the limelight with their brilliance, Manjot Kalra finally got his moment of glory and that too, in the biggest game of his career.

He scored 101 off 102 deliveries and played the role of the anchor as well as the aggressor of the Indian innings. He showed maturity above his age and completed the chase with absolute professionalism.

His technique and temperament are ideal for a top order batsman, and the shots that they played in his innings today were nothing short of splendid. The lofted off-drive, in particular, is a sight for sore eyes.

He opened the innings with his skipper and stayed unbeaten throughout the innings. His immense concentration was key to India cruising to the total without any massive hiccups along the way.

#4 Miss: Jason Sangha

Sangha couldn't step up to the challenge on the biggest stage

High hopes were pinned on this young batting sensation from Australia in the lead up to the tournament. However, his numbers after its completion tilt towards disappointment. In the seven innings that the right-handed batsman played in the World Cup, he crossed fifty on just two occasions.

In the final, he got a considerably good start against India before getting dismissed at 13. This time, he was victim to a sensational delivery from Kamlesh Nagarkoti. It swung, it bounced and it took the edge off Sangha's bat before flying into Harvik Desai's diving hands.

The Australian skipper tried hard to bring inspired changes in the field when India were batting, but the men from the subcontinent were just too clinical with the bat to fall to his tactics. It was a forgettable day in the office for the 18-year-old.

#3 Hit: Indian bowling unit

Indian pacers, as well as spinners, were right on the money on the day

When the entire bowling contingent steps up to reduce the opposition to just 216 in an ICC final, it is unfair to highlight just one of them.

In the middle overs of the first innings, it looked like Australia might race to a total in excess of 280. However, the Prithvi Shaw's men kept prodding and poking around the willows of the kangaroos, and were eventually awarded for their persistent effort.

Nagarkoti, Shiva Singh, Ishan Porel and Anukul Roy picked up two wickets each. Shivam Mavi, too, chipped in with the wicket at the end of the innings. Immediately after they broke the dangerous-looking partnership between Sangha and Uppal, they took the Australian batting attack to the cleaners.

They were clinical in getting the tail-enders in quick succession and that was imperative in restricting Australia to a total less than 220.

#2 Miss: Australian opening pair

After Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, it was imperative for Jack Edwards and Max Bryant to provide a solid start to their innings. However, it was not to be.

Bryant, who suffered the first dismissal of the day, was dismissed in the sixth over of the game by Ishan Porel. Edwards has been in good form in the tournament and got off to a decent start, but could not convert it into a big score. He scored 28 off 29 deliveries before he, too, sent back to the pavilion by the medium pace of Porel.

The failure to get off to a flyer of a start forced Australia to rebuild in the middle overs of the innings, which cost eventually cost them a dominating total in the match.

#1 Hit: Jonathan Merlo

Merlo put up a commendable performance with the bat

After grabbing a four-wicket haul with the ball against Pakistan in the semi-final, Merlo stepped up with the bat against India in the final.

The right-handed batsman played a knock of 76 off 102 deliveries that proved to be pivotal for Australia in reaching a fighting total in the first innings of the match. He came into the middle in the 10th over the game and batted right up to the 46th over.

Australia were in a spot of bother when he came in at 52-2. He stitched a very important partnership of 75 runs with Param Uppal. When the pair were together at the crease, it looked like Australia could power through to a score in excess of 270.

Merlo says his favourite cricketer is Ricky Ponting, and he clearly showed the former Australian skipper's fight on the field today.