Malhotra’s Century Sinks Zimbabwe; Pakistan Bowlers Dominate New Zealand in U19 World Cup

In a remarkable display of skill, India U19 defeated Zimbabwe U19 by 204 runs in a recent matchup of the ICC U19 World Cup. India scored an impressive 352 runs for the loss of eight wickets, while Zimbabwe managed only 148 in their chase.

Malhotra’s Century Shines Bright

Rohit Malhotra played a pivotal role in India’s innings, scoring an unbeaten 109. His century was supported by good performances from teammates Anshul Kundu and Sooryavanshi. Kundu contributed 61 runs and Sooryavanshi chipped in with 52 runs, both helping to set a formidable target.

Malhotra’s innings also marked significant milestones, as he scored his first fifty in the tournament. He and Kundu forged a crucial 113-run partnership, helping to recover India’s momentum after the loss of key early wickets.

Key Partnerships

• Sooryavanshi and Aaron George added 44 runs in the opening overs.
• Malhotra and Kundu built a partnership of 113 runs.
• Ambrish and Malhotra added 52 runs for the next partnership.

Zimbabwe’s Struggles with the Bat

Zimbabwe faced early setbacks in their innings. Their top order faltered under pressure, with Nathaniel Hlabangana dismissed for a duck. Despite Leeroy Chiwaula’s commendable effort, scoring 62 runs, the rest of the batting lineup faltered significantly.

India’s bowlers applied pressure consistently. Udhav Mohan and Ayush Mhatre took wickets at crucial moments, with Mhatre claiming three key wickets towards the end. Zimbabwe’s batting collapsed as they lost their last six wickets for just one run.

Bowling Highlights

• Udhav Mohan: 3 wickets for 20 runs.
• Ayush Mhatre: 3 wickets for 14 runs.
• Malhotra’s Century and Kundu’s 61 crucial to setting up a dominating score.

Pakistan’s Victory Over New Zealand

In parallel matches, Pakistan U19 achieved a comprehensive victory over New Zealand U19 by eight wickets. Pakistan chased down a modest target of 111 runs in just 14.1 overs, led by opener Sameer Minhas, who scored a crucial 76 not out.

Pakistan’s bowlers dominated, reducing New Zealand to 110 runs, with Abdul Subhan capturing four wickets for just 11 runs. This victory keeps Pakistan’s hopes alive in Group 2 of the Super Sixes.

Match Statistics

Both India and Pakistan showcased their prowess in this round of the U19 World Cup, signaling their readiness for more competitive matches ahead.