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India U-19 chase down target within 14 overs in 50-over tri-series final, Sarfaraz Khan seals WC spot

Sarafaraz Khan’s 23-ball fifty was the fastest fifty in the tournament

The India U-19 team maintained their perfect run in the 50-over tri-series against Bangladesh U-19 and Afghanistan U-19, a tournament being played in Kolkata in preparation for the U-19 World Cup in January next year.

Having beaten both the sides comfortably in the two league meetings, India stamped their dominance in the final on Sunday as well, blasting their way to a 7-wicket victory, with 219 balls to spare – a massive margin of victory.

The Bangladesh side batted first, but could never get into their scoring stride. All the Indian bowlers kept the pressure on the batsmen – the most expensive figures, for instance, was of the all-rounder Washington Sundar, who gave 22 runs in his 5 overs.

Avesh Khan(1/18) and Khalil Ahmed(1/11) made some early inroads, before spinner Mayank Dagar demolished the middle order with his figures of 3/32. Bangladesh finished their innings in the 37th over, only managing to have scored 116.

Indian batsmen blitz their way to target

In reply, the Indian batsmen came out all guns blazing, seemingly impatient to get their fifth win on the trot. Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar gave a great start to the Indians, racing to 38 for no loss within the 5th over, a partnership consisting of six fours and one six.

Three quick wickets meant that there was some pressure on captain Ricky Bhui and Sarfaraz Khan to stabilize the chase, but they did not hold back on their shots either. Sarfaraz, especially, blasted nine fours and three sixes on his way to a 23-ball 50, without doubt the most dazzling show of batsmanship seen in the tournament.

The duo’s unbroken 74-run partnership took the team to a comfortable victory.

Sarfaraz had knocks of 2, 0 and 12 in his first three matches but came up with a brilliant performance when it mattered the most and was adjudged the man-of-the-match for his efforts. With this supreme effort on the big stage, the burly teenager from Mumbai, who also made a splash in IPL 2015 for RCB, has made sure that he will be part of the U-19 team that plays in the World Cup next year.

Delhi left-hander Rishabh Pant, who topped the run charts (256) with a ton and two half-centuries from three matches, was adjudged the man of the series.

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