While the score of 251 runs for 7 wickets did not look that big, but two Indian spinners stopped the run-flow, and ‘Tiger Cubs’ were all out for 167 runs in 45.5 overs.
The defending champions defeated Bangladesh by 84 runs in their opening match of the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bloemfontein on Saturday, riding on impressive Indian performances from Musheer Khan and left-arm spinner Soumya Kumar Pandey.
photo credit bcci x
U19 Cricket World Cup 2024
Indian captain Uday Saharan (64 off 94 balls) and opener Adarsh Singh (76 off 96 balls) scored half-centuries after Bangladesh invited the holders to strike first.
Omey (4/24) was economical and bowled a terrific arm ball with a skiddy action, while all-rounder Musheer (2/35) tossed it up and was getting enough drift to put the pressure on the Bangladeshi batsmen.
Musheer, younger brother of Mumbai’s domestic legend Sarfaraz Khan, was a livewire on the field. He also did a great run out.
What was impressive to watch was no overt celebration on the part of Soumi or Musheer, who went about their job like very fine elite professionals.