Manjot Kalra leads India Under-19 to World Cup glory

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand: India sauntered to a record fourth Under-19 World Cup title here on Saturday in front of a partisan crowd of 4000 odd at Bay Oval, to finish an unbeaten campaign that had begun against Australia at the same venue three weeks ago. The margin of victory then was 100 runs, and it was comprehensive in the grand final as well — eight wickets.

To win the tournament, India pulled off their second highest successful chase in U-19 World Cups, after the 226 to beat Australia in Townsville in 2012. Unmukt Chand had led that chase with a sublime century, and on Saturday another Delhi boy, Manjot Kalra, reprised the feat. In the tournament opener against Australia, Kalra had missed his century by 14 runs in an effort to hit out; he was unbeaten on 101 off 102 balls in the final.

Australia’s relief was short lived, as they watched the in-form Shubman Gill plays three exquisite cover drives within five minutes of his arrival at the crease. The catch was the start of a turnaround for Desai, who had earlier missed two half-chances off Australia’s openers.