India U19 Dominates USA in Rain-Hit World Cup Opener
India's Under-19 cricket team kicked off their ICC Under-19 World Cup campaign with a commanding six-wicket victory over the United States on Thursday. The match, affected by rain, saw a brilliant bowling performance from Henil Patel set up the win.
Henil Patel's Sensational Spell
Right-arm pacer Henil Patel delivered a match-winning performance with the ball. He claimed a sensational five-wicket haul, finishing with outstanding figures of 5/16 from his seven overs. Patel bowled with ruthless precision, running through the USA middle order.
He struck early in his first over, dismissing Amrinder Gill for just 1 run. Patel then removed Sahil Garg for 16, before dismantling USA captain Utkarsh Srivastava for a duck in the same over. He continued his dominance by sending back Arjun Mahesh for 16. Patel returned later to clean up the tail, dismissing Sabrish Prasad and Rishabh Shimpi.
USA's Struggle with the Bat
The United States team struggled against India's disciplined bowling attack. They were bundled out for just 107 runs in 35.2 overs. Only Nitish Sudini offered significant resistance, scoring 36 runs before falling to the Indian attack.
Khilan Patel supported Henil's efforts by trapping Amogh Arepally for 3 runs. The USA batting lineup collapsed under consistent pressure from the Indian bowlers.
Rain Interrupts India's Chase
India began their chase under cloudy conditions, but rain interrupted their progress. The weather reduced the match to 37 overs under the DLS method, with a revised target of 96 runs.
India had made a cautious start, reaching 21/1 in four overs before the rain arrived. Once play resumed, they faced some early setbacks in their pursuit of the target.
India's Batting Response
The Indian chase experienced some wobbles after the rain break. Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fell early for just 2 runs, bowled by Ritvik Appidi. Captain Ayush Mhatre showed positive intent with two boundaries but departed for 19.
Vedant Trivedi scored only 2 runs, while vice-captain Vihaan Malhotra made 18 before falling. These dismissals left India at 70/4, creating some tension in the dressing room.
Abhigyan Kundu's Composed Finish
Abhigyan Kundu stepped up to anchor the innings with a patient and composed knock. He scored an unbeaten 42 runs from just 41 balls, guiding India to victory with confidence. Kundu ensured his partner Kanishk Chouhan remained unbeaten on 10 runs at the other end.
Their partnership took India to 99/4 in 17.2 overs, securing the six-wicket win with plenty of overs to spare.
Looking Ahead
This victory gives India U19 a confident start to their Group B campaign. They now prepare for upcoming matches against Bangladesh and New Zealand in the tournament. The team will look to build on this performance as they aim for World Cup glory.
Brief Scores: USA: 107 in 35.2 overs (Nitish Sudini 36; Henil Patel 5/16). India: 99/4 in 17.2 overs (Abhigyan Kundu 42*, Ritvik Appidi 2/24).
