In a thrilling finale at Willowmoore Park, Australia emerged victorious against India in the Under-19 World Cup final, securing their fourth title in the tournament's history. Despite a valiant effort from Team India, they fell short in their pursuit of Australia's target.

Team India faced early setbacks as key batsmen like Musheer Khan, Arshin Kulkarni, captain Uday Saharan, and Sachin Dhas struggled to make an impact against Australia's formidable pace attack. Despite fighting innings from Adarsh Singh and Murugan Abhishek, India managed to post a modest total of 174 runs in 43.5 overs.

Australia's bowlers, led by Mahli Beardman and Raf MacMilllan, capitalized on India's batting struggles, with Callum Vidler also contributing with crucial dismissals. The Australian team's disciplined bowling performance restricted India's scoring opportunities, ultimately leading to their victory by a margin of 79 runs.

Earlier in the match, India had shown promise in containing Australia's batting lineup, but a late surge propelled the Australians to a competitive total of 253/7 in their 50 overs. Notable contributions from Oliver Peake and Harjas Singh bolstered Australia's innings, despite efforts from Indian bowlers like Raj Limbani and Naman Tiwari.

India's hopes were briefly raised when Raj Limbani provided an early breakthrough by dismissing opener Sam Konstas. However, Australia's partnership between Hugh Weibgen and Harry Dixon steadied their innings before Harjas Singh's aggressive batting propelled them to a commanding position.

Both India and Australia had fought hard to reach the final, with close semi-final victories against South Africa and Pakistan respectively. While India's journey in the tournament had been dominant until the final clash, Australia's triumph in the decisive match mirrored their victory in the 2023 World Cup final against India.

Despite the disappointment in the final, India's performance throughout the tournament showcased their potential, while Australia's victory highlighted their resilience and determination on the global stage of Under-19 cricket.

Picture Credit - Times of India