India vs New Zealand

Following Musheer Khan’s second-century score in the U-19 World Cup, India destroyed New Zealand by 214 runs at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein thanks to a masterful bowling display headed by Saumy Pandey’s four-wicket haul.

Musheer’s 126-ball 131 comprised 13 fours and 3 sixes, pushing India to 295/8. When India was asked to bat, Arshin Kulkarni was dismissed quickly, but Adarsh Singh produced a solid half-century and an additional 77 with Musheer to set up a solid foundation. Musheer then joined skipper Uday Saharan for a third-wicket stand of 87. New Zealand responded with regular wickets in the final 15 overs, with Mason Clarke taking four, but Musheer maintained his side’s large total.

When just 22 runs were scored in the first four wickets split by Pandey and Raj Limbani, New Zealand was spooked early in the chase. There was no turning back after that, as India continued their wicket-taking binge, with Musheer adding a couple, as New Zealand were swept out for 81 in 28.1 overs.

Brief scores: India 295/8 in 50 overs (Musheer Khan 131, Adarsh Singh 52; Mason Clarke 4-62) beat New Zealand 81 in 28.1 overs (Oscar Jackson 19; Saumy Pandey 4-19, Musheer Khan 2-10) by 214 runs.

Sri Lanka vs West Indies

The West Indies won the championship for the third time in a row, beating Sri Lanka by three wickets in a nail-biting finish at Diamond Oval in Kimberley. West Indies needed 232 to win, but it took them until the third delivery of the final over to do so, and they won by three wickets.

Sri Lanka dropped three wickets in the first ten overs of their innings, but Dinura Kalupahana played a calm knock and spearheaded the team’s revival alongside Supun Waduge. However, the West Indies ripped through the middle order, leaving Sri Lanka at 134/6 at one point. But Malsha Tharupathi’s 42 propelled the team past the 200 mark, giving their bowlers a fighting chance.

West Indies got off to a good start, with Stephan Pascal scoring 33 of the 48 runs added in the opening stand. They lost a few wickets but recovered because of the 61-run stand that Steve Wedderburn and Jordan Johnson shared. However, Sri Lanka battled back and made the West Indies uneasy. However, Nathan Sealy and Tarrique Edward guaranteed a comfortable escape for the Caribbean team with an unbroken 26-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 231 in 50 overs (Malsha Tharupathi, Dinura Kalupahana 53; Raneico Smith 4-47) lost to West Indies 232/7 in 49.3 overs (Steve Wedderburn 61, Jordan Johnson 39; Vishwa Lahiru 2-32) by 3 wickets.