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Alzarri Joseph help West Indies restrict India to 145 in ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup final at Dhaka

Alzarri Joseph destroyed India's top-order early in India's innings in the final at Dhaka.

Sarfaraz Khan top-scored for India with 51 runs in the final of ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup vs West Indies © Getty Images
Sarfaraz Khan top-scored for India with 51 runs in the final of ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup vs West Indies © Getty Images

Alzarri Joseph and a collective effort from West Indies restricted India to a poor total of 145 in 45.1 overs in the final of ongoing ICC Under-19 Cricket world Cup at Dhaka on Sunday. India were bundled out with Rahul Batham’s dismissal on the first delivery of the 45th over with Khaleel Ahmed remaining unbeaten on 2 form 12 balls. Earlier, it was once again Sarfaraz Khan who top-scored for India with 51 runs from 89 balls. His fighting innings lasted for 145 minutes and had consisted of five fours and Indian innings’ only six. Joseph and Ryan John shared six wickets between each other with both bagging three scalps each. However, it was Joseph whose early breakthrough set the tone for West Indies. India have been unbeaten in the World Cup so far before this final. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs West Indies, ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016 Final at Dhaka

Joseph, who opened the bowling for West Indies, struck in the very first over of the day. After giving three runs off the first four deliveries, he made a breakthrough in the next ball. While trying to go outside off, he suddenly was seen missing it while the wicketkeeper was sharp enough to stretch, grab the ball and remove the bails off in a matter of seconds, which saw in-form Rishabh Pant walking back to the pavilion. That dismissal more belonged to Tevin Imlach than Joseph.  The 19-year-old who has been West Indies’ leading wicket-taker in this World Cup with 13 wickets before the final, made another breakthrough in his second over.

Joseph once again went short; Anmolpreet while trying to defend it edged it to the keeper, leaving India in a miserable situation of 8 for 2 in a World Cup final. Indian skipper Kishan who has been struggling with his form lately became a victim of poor umpiring. While he attempted to flick it towards the leg side, Joseph struck him on the pads. However the replays though showed there was no contact with the bat but the ball was pitching outside leg. That wicket left India at 27 for 3. Dream start for West Indies, meanwhile, a horrid beginning to India’s final who have been unbeaten all through the World Cup. Live Cricket Score, ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2016 final, India vs West Indies at Dhaka

Following the collapse of the top-order, the batsmen who came in next also did not stick around for a very long time, barring the 19-year-old Sarfaraz Khan. From 2014 to now, Sarfaraz has played 12 matches, scoring 534 runs at an excellent average above 76. Once again, he was burdened with the responsibility of taking India’s charge as he saw the likes of Washington Sundar, Arman Jaffer and Mahipal Lomror become victims of some fantastic bowling from the boys in maroon on the other end.

West Indies used only four bowlers for a very long time. Ryan John was the new wicket-taker when he made a breakthrough in his very second over. All the West Indies did were stuck to their basics, followed strict line and length and never let the Indians take the pressure off. Washington Sundar who had 62 runs to his name before the final from 5 matches, was the next batsman to depart. John tempted Sundar with a full toss, who drove it to the top trying to clear the mid-off but only managed to land it into the hands of Joseph. The latter had been a part of all the four dismissals the West Indies had made then.

The next dismissal saw Indian coach Dravid jumping out of his chair. Arman Jaffer drove a full toss from Shamar Springer which got the flight but only land in the lap of the short-cover fielder who finished a low catch at ankle-height. India and Dravid were not sure if the catch was taken cleanly. Umpire was asked to check the replays which showed Jaffer had to depart and the west Indians were seen once again doing their famous “chest roll!”

Mahipal Lomror was the new man for India and his partnership with Sarfaraz was India’s highest stand in their innings. The all-rounder who has had a strike-rate of more than 115 in this World Cup also could not repeat his fireworks. He shared a stand of 37 runs for the sixth wicket with Sarfaraz before becoming Chemar Holder’s first and the only scalp of the match. He scored 19 runs from 43 balls and that knock consisted of only two boundaries.

Following Lomror’s wicket, the likes of Avesh Khan, Rahul Batham and Mayank Dagar did not contribute much. However, these lower-order Indian cricketers have a huge task ahead of them to now defend this paltry total for India. If India wants to become the first nation to win the Uner-19 World Cup for a record fourth time, these young bowlers have to display the best spells of their lives.

Brief scores:

India Under-19 145 in 45.1 overs (Sarfaraz Khan 51; Alzarri Joseph 3 for 39, Ryan John 3 for 38) vs West Indies Under-19.

Full Scorecard

(Sakshi Gupta, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a sports fanatic whose mantra in life is “do only what you enjoy.” Her Twitter handle is @sakshi2929)

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