The Hindu : India is Asian under-19 champion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 07, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

India is Asian under-19 champion

LAHORE NOV. 6. The Indians gave a thoroughly professional performance at the Gaddafi Stadium here this evening to win the Asia Cup under-19 cricket crown with a convincing eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. A pity the show was witnessed by a handful of spectators as the Indians outclassed their opponents and avenged the defeat in the league stage in its opening encounter.

As skipper Ambati Rayudu, who gave the finishing touches with a regal knock, described it "the win was a team effort.'' He praised left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan for his bowling and Robin Uthappa for his exceptional batting as India emerged a worthy winner.

Rayudu won the first round by calling correctly and the Indian seamers snatched the initial advantage by reducing Sri Lanka to 43 for four in 12 overs. Pathan led the charge by claiming two wickets while Sunny Singh and Suresh Raina picked a wicket each. But Sri Lanka recovered through a 100-run stand between R. Ratnayake and M. Maharoof.

Ratnayake's run out gave India the breakthrough at a crucial stage and Mahroof's wicket soon saw Rayudu and his boys calling the shots. The Indians did not ease the pressure and once again Pathan and Raina came up with tight bowling in the end overs tight to restrict Sri Lanka to 225. Given the conditions, the target appeared modest and the Indian batsmen proved it with a superb display.

Uthappa, having gained plenty of confidence from his vital innings against Pakistan, showed the way with his aggressive style of batsmanship. He concentrated on scoring briskly and did not let up even as the Sri Lankan bowlers tried their best to contain the stylish opener from Karnataka. Uthappa played some stunning drives in front and pounced on every scoring opportunity. Strong off his legs, Uthappa did extremely well to attack and his was the strong foundation on which India achieved the goal with such ease.

Uthappa lost opening partner Shiv Shukla to an unusual run out when the batsmen tried to rehearse a drive and strayed out of the crease. Shukla's replacement Rakesh Solanki batted with remarkable temperament to fashion the chase.

Solanki's mature method was the most impressive aspect of the contest. He did not flinch and stuck to his task, reposing the faith showed in him by coach Robin Singh, who once again showed his cricketing acumen and commitment by moulding the team into a winning unit. Solanki provided the support as Uthappa slammed the bowlers before playing across to be caught plumb. Uthappa's entertaining effort earned him the `man of the match' award.

The stage was now left to Rayudu, a batsman with a wide range of strokes. The Hyderabad strokeplayer produced a brilliant innings which sealed Sri Lanka's remote hopes of a fightback. Rayudu's footwork left the bowlers in a tangle and he played the lofted shot with authority and power to slam two sixes off the spinners. The camaraderie of the team was evident in Solanki playing a maiden over to enable Rayudu make the winning hit.

The Lankans drew consolation from the best batsman award bagged by Harsh Vitahana while Pathan was adjudged the best bowler and the player of the tournament for his sensational bowling all through the competition.

The scores:

Sri Lanka: A. Kularatne c Karthik b Sunny Singh 12; H. Vithana lbw Pathan 6; W. Tharanga c Sunny Singh b Raina 13; J. Silva lbw b Pathan 0; R.G. Ratnayake (run out) 45; M. Maharoof lbw Sunny Singh 57; G.T. De Silva c Shukla b Sunny Singh 16; C. Kulasekara b Pathan 29; A. Mathews (not out) 15; R. De Zoysa (run out) 3; P. Chanaka (run out) 2; Extras (lb-3, w-20, nb-4) 27; Total (in 49.4 overs) 225.

Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-25, 3-28, 4-43, 5-143, 6-163, 7-179, 8-214, 9-220.

India bowling: Pathan 9.4-1-33-3, V.R. Singh 9-0-56-0, Sunny Singh 10-2-35-3, Raina 3-0-11-1, Avinash Yadav 6-1-25-0, Shukla 2-0-8-0, Piyush Chawala 10-0-54-0.

India: R. Uthappa lbw Mathews 88; S. Shukla (run out) 19; R. Solanki (not out) 56; A. Rayudu (not out) 57; Extras (lb-2, w-4, nb-3) 9; Total (for two wkts. in 44.4 overs) 229.

Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-136.

Sri Lanka bowling: Maharoof 8-0-40-0, Chanaka 6-0-31-0, Kulasekara 6-1-16-0, Mathews 6-0-30-1, De Zoysa 8.4-0-57-0, Ratnayake 9-0-53-0, Vithana 1-1-0-0.

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