Punjab Newsline,Sports :
India dominate early in the final against England as Vaibhav shines with a fearless hundred at Harare
India delivered a commanding batting performance in the U-19 World Cup final against England, riding on a sensational century by Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The title clash is being played at the Harare Sports Club, where India won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that paid rich dividends in the opening phase of the match.
After 20 overs, India raced to 167 for the loss of two wickets, firmly placing themselves in control of the contest. Vaibhav Suryavanshi remained unbeaten at the crease, showcasing remarkable composure and attacking intent on the biggest stage of the tournament. He completed a stunning century, underlining his status as one of India’s brightest young talents.
Vaibhav’s innings was a perfect blend of power and placement. He smashed eight boundaries and eight towering sixes, putting England’s bowlers under sustained pressure. His fearless approach ensured that the scoring rate never dipped, allowing India to build a strong platform in the final.
At the other end, Ayush Mhatre played a crucial supporting role with a well-crafted half-century. Ayush scored 53 runs off 51 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes. The duo stitched together a massive 142-run partnership for the second wicket, which proved to be the backbone of India’s innings and shifted momentum decisively in their favour.
The partnership came to an end when Ayush was dismissed for 53, caught by Ben Mays off the bowling of Alex Green. Earlier in the innings, Aaron George was dismissed for nine runs, but after his departure, Vaibhav and Ayush took complete control of proceedings.
Following Ayush’s dismissal, Vedant joined Vaibhav at the crease, and the pair continued to consolidate India’s strong position as the innings progressed.
This final holds special significance for both teams. India have reached the U-19 World Cup final for a record 10th time, reflecting their consistent dominance at the junior level. England, on the other hand, are appearing in their third final, having won their only U-19 World Cup title back in 1998. Notably, India defeated England in the 2022 final to lift the trophy for the fifth time.
With Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s blistering century setting the tone, India now look poised to post a formidable total. The focus will be on how the middle order builds on this strong start and whether England can stage a comeback in this high-stakes final.