WATCH: Under-Pressure Naman Tiwari Bounces Back to Deny AUS Captain Hugh Weibgen a Fifty

Indian Under-19 skipper Uday Saharan’s commendable leadership was on display when his team locked horns with Australia in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2024 final at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. The boys in blue found an early success after being asked to bowl first as fast bowler Raj Limbani knocked over Aussie opener Sam Konstas for an 8-ball duck. But what unfolded next was a bit troublesome for the defending champions. Harry Dixon was joined by skipper Hugh Weibgen and the duo went on to add 78 runs for the second wicket until left-arm pacer Naman Tiwari provided a massive breakthrough in the 21^st over.

Earlier, it was a nervy start for Tiwari as he conceded 15 runs in just the second over of the big final. Saharan decided to give some time to the left-arm pacer and brought him back into the attack after 19 overs.

Dixon welcomed Tiwari with a cracking shot that raced towards the deep square leg boundary. However, the left-armer bounced back to deceive the Australian skipper with fuller delivery which was travelling wide of the off stump. Weibgen was tempted to play the ball through covers but ended up slicing it off to Muneer Khan at backward point.

Tiwari burst into a wild celebration, gesturing he rightly belonged there.

In his next over, Tiwai hunted down the other Aussie opener, Dixon with a knuckle ball. The delivery was way outside the off stump and Dixon poked it towards the off side where Murugan Abhishek took a sliding catch.

Saharan showed trust in his player and in return, India found a couple of breakthroughs in quick succession. The fall of Dixon and Weibgen brought down Australia’s scoring rate and further allowed the spinners to surge in the middle overs.

Left-arm finger spinner Saumy Pandey trapped Harjas Singh who had smashed a half-century was key for Australia after they lost the top-order. Later, Musheer Khan caught and bowled Raf Macmillan to reduce the Aussies to 187/6 in 40 overs.

Earlier, Australia skipper Hugh Weibgen elected to bat against defending champions India in the final. India, who are vying for a recording-extending sixth title, are unchanged while the Aussies replaced Tom Campbell with Charlie Anderson.