Ireland and Zimbabwe on the receiving side

All-rounder Musheer Khan (118), captain Uday Saharan (75) along with left-arm quick Naman Tiwari (4/53) and Saumy Pandey (3/21) excelled in India’s massive 201 run win over minnows Ireland after setting a huge target of 302 in 50 overs at  Bloemfontein, South Africa in their second Group A  league match of the ongoing ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup that was played at Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein on Thursday 25 January 2024.

The five times reigning world champions India who were put in to bat made the most of the good batting conditions, despite losing both their well set  openers Adarsh Singh (17) and Arshin Kulkarni (33) to John McNally (2/45) by the 20^th overs with 80 runs on the board.

Uday Saharan and Musheer Khan later combined in what turned out to be a game-changing 156 run partnership for the third wicket, despite a slow start. The first boundary of their alliance came after more than 10 overs, but runs came thick and fast from there as the two showcased their range of strokes.

Musheer brought up his fifty in the 34th over and Saharan followed suit soon after, making it four fifties in four outings (including two in the warm-up games) at the tournament. Both batters moved across to the off-side to exploit the fine-leg region with scoop shots.

Saharan couldn't convert his half-century to a bigger knock as he fell attempting one of those scoop shots that had brought him success. The lack of pace and timing in the shot saw Saharan hole out for 75.

Musheer went on to complete his hundred off as many balls and raced to 118 off 106 balls before attempting a risky double that saw him finish short of the crease as the keeper took off the bails.

Sachin Dhas hit two fours and a six in the final over before Oliver Riley wrapped up the innings with two wickets in two balls. India had enough by then, though, finishing on 301/7.

Ireland openers got off to a careful start against India's new-ball bowlers Naman Tiwari and Dhanush Gowda, so Saharan turned to Saumy Pandey’s spin for the breakthrough.

The left-arm spinner struck immediately, bowling Jordan Neill with a peach that turned past the outside edge to crash into the stumps.

With the opening created, Tiwari started banging the ball into the wicket to generate extra bounce. The ploy worked as Ryan Hunter holed out attempting a pull stroke off a short ball. Skipper Philippe le Roux nicked one behind the same over as Ireland slipped further.

Another short ball next over brought Tiwari his third as Scott MacBeth perished. Aravelly Avanish produced a sharp stumping next over off Pandey as Ireland were reduced 41/5.

Wickets continued to tumble as Ireland lost five wickets, one in each over, between overs 11 and 15. Murugan Abhishek, like in the last game, took a stunning catch at point to dismiss McNally. With Tiwari sending back the in-form Kian Hilton, India had asserted complete dominance.

Daniel Forkin and Riley hung around to delay India's win, adding a few runs in a steady partnership. Abhishek broke the stand by trapping Riley in front by coming around the wicket. Saharan took the final wicket as India completed a 201-run victory.

Tiwari finished with four wickets and Pandey three as India completed a massive victory in Bloemfontein to make it two wins out of two.

India will take on USA next on January 28, while Ireland complete their group schedule with one win in three games. If USA lose their matches against Bangladesh and India, Ireland will go through to the Super Six stage.

Player of the Match Musheer commented on how his batting style was similar to his brother, Sarfaraz Khan, who also made a hundred for India A against England Lions today in an unofficial Test match.

“We have similar styles of batting [Sarfaraz and I]. It was really nice to score a hundred and I hope to keep contributing from the middle-order. The six over mid-wicket was my favourite shot during this knock,” shared an elated Musheer who is also the captain of the Mumbai U-19 team in India.

On the other hand opener and Player of the Match Harry Dixon and Harkirat Bajwa aced with the bat and ball in Australia’s equally impressive 225 runs victory over Zimbabwe, after the later were bowled out for 71 in mere 23.2 over while chasing a target of 297, in their second Group C league match at Diamond Oval, Kimberley.