India, Australia top their groups in U19 Cricket World Cup

India won against the USA by a comfortable margin; whereas Australia were made to sweat by Sri Lanka, but eventually overcame the ask in the ICC Men's U19 Cricket World Cup 2024.

India secure top spot with comprehensive win over the USA

Adarsh Singh and Arshin Kulkarni gave India a steady start. The duo scored at four an over during the first Powerplay, with Adarsh taking the lead in run-scoring. However, Adarsh fell in the 12th over after failing to clear the gap against Ateendra Subramanian. However, Arshin opened his arms, and India's scoring rate picked up.

Musheer Khan continued from where he'd left off in the last game, punishing the bad balls past the gaps to accumulate quick runs. The duo didn't hesitate to use their power and belted sixes when needed. By the 30-over mark, they had added 116 runs at better than a run a ball. The duo continued their belligerent run, till Musheer nicked a catch to short third man off Rishi Ramesh.

Kulkarni, however, continued at his pace and secured a brilliant ton. Skipper Uday Saharan also played a handy role with a 27-ball 35. India continued relying on big strokes. They almost doubled their total to finish at 326 for five. Eight sixes were hit in the India innings.

Raj Limban and Naman Tiwari were right on the mark with the new ball. They ran through the USA top-order in the first 10 overs. Limbani sent back Prannav Chettipalayam, USA's top-scorer against Bangladesh, in the very first over. Tiwari showed the same accuracy that was on display against Ireland, and cleaned up Bhavya Patel in the second over, before getting Rishi Ramesh in his fourth over.

A 43-run stand between Siddarth Kappa and Utkarsh Srivastava temporarily arrested the slide. Utkarsh impressed with his positive strokeplay, hitting four fours during his stay. However, with Kappa's dismissal, the North American unit was in disarray once more. Tiwari had Utkarsh in the 28th over, and Manav Nayak was bowled in his very next over.

Though the USA managed to hold on till the end of the game, India were comfortable winners and topped their group.

This ensured that they'll face New Zealand and Nepal in the Super Six.

Aussies register win and top spot

Australia had the advantage with three strikes in the first 15 overs. Having recovered from the illness that kept him out against Zimbabwe, Callum Vidler returned in style. He picked both the openers in his spell of 2-21. Tom Campbell struck to remove Supun Waduge in the 15th over.

Ravishan de Silva and Dinura Kalupahana began the rebuild. The latter set his eyes in, while Ravishan went for his shots. After a well-made 30, Ravishan nicked one behind the wicket off Harjas Singh. However, Kalupahana picked pace soon after, with a six.

Kalupahana was pretty much the backbone of Sri Lanka's innings thereafter. He scored 64 from 78 with nine boundaries, including two additional sixes. His dismissal off Vidler put the innings in a tailspin. Sharujan Shanmuganathan's 21 helped the island nation cross 200 before they were bowled out in the 50th over.

Australia's reliable opening pair of Harry Dixon and Sam Konstas gave them a usual strong start at the top. They overcame the challenge of Sri Lankan fast bowlers and spinners alike. Australia were going at over 5.5, when Dixon fell to Vishwa Lahiru.

The experienced left-arm spinner then accounted for Australia skipper Hugh Weibgen soon after. Seven balls later, Malsha Tharupathi trapped Sam Konstas leg-before to throw the game wide open.

A 49-run stand between Harjas Singh and Ryan Hicks helped Australia get their chase on track. Harjas was solid in his defence, while Hicks was positive and looked to accumulate runs. However, tidy work from wicketkeeper Shanmuganathan caught Harjas short of the crease off Jayawardena, and Sri Lanka had an opening.

But Hicks was joined by Tom Campbell, and together the duo brought down the asking rate, and pushed Australia steadily towards the target. They eventually crossed the line in the 49th over.

Hicks was declared as the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 77*.