Captain Chand ton gives India Under-19 World Cup

ESPNCricinfo: Unmukt Chand led India to World Cup glory at Tony Ireland Stadium, his unbeaten century ensuring his side saved its best batting performance for when it counted most, pulling off the highest successful chase at this venue to beat defending champions Australia in the final. Chand, who was ably supported by Baba Aparajith and Smit Patel, secured India’s third Under-19 world title, after triumphs in 2000 and 2008.

Chand and Patel shared an unbroken century stand for the fifth wicket, after India had slipped from 75 for 1 to 97 for 4. At no stage of the chase did they let the asking rate climb too far over the boundary, and several huge hits on the home stretch ensured the target was achieved in the 48th over.

 William Bosisto forged two consecutive half-century partnerships with Travis Head and Ashton Turner to steer Australia to a competitive total in the World Cup final, after they were floundering at 38 for 4 in the morning.

Bosisto was the anchor once again, while Head and Turner were more aggressive, and he finished unbeaten for the fifth time in six innings, ending the tournament with an average of 276.

Bosisto walked off the field exhausted to back slaps from all of his team-mates; the Indians went into the lunch break knowing their batsmen would have to pull off the highest successful chase at Tony Ireland Stadium to win the World Cup. They had started the final superbly by taking four early wickets but as the Australians regrouped their standards in the field slipped. When Bosisto dived to complete his 87th run off the final ball, he had given India a much tougher task than seemed possible after the first hour.

India had won the toss for the first time at this venue and Sandeep struck with his fourth delivery. Jimmy Peirson shouldered arms to an inswinger that hit off stump, and Sandeep celebrated with the nonchalance of a man who’s made an early wicket a habit. In his second over, Sandeep had the other opener Cameron Bancroft lbw, reducing Australia to 8 for 2.

The other new-ball bowler Kamal Passi wasn’t as successful. He gave the batsmen too much width and Meyrick Buchanan got off the mark with a classic square drive. Kurtis Patterson also got going off Passi with two drives to the off-side boundary. At the end of their first spells, Sandeep had figures of 5-2-8-2 and Passi 4-0-24-0.

Unmukt Chand brought on his offspinner in the 11th over and Baba Aparajith went round the wicket immediately to the left-hand batsman Kurtis Patterson and bowled him. In the next, Ravikant drew an edge from Buchanan and Australia were 38 for 4. William Bosisto and Head had to rescue the innings, like they hadagainst England and Bangladesh. They had barely got started when Head, on 5, cut Ravikant to point where Akshdeep Nath dropped a straightforward chance. Head went on to pull Passi for four before hitting Ravikant for consecutive boundaries in the 18th over to give Australia some momentum. He was lucky to survive an lbw appeal from Aparajith on 20 and went on to score 37 out of a 65-run stand with Bosisto, who was as solid as he’s been in all of Australia’s previous games. The partnership ended in a run out, after Harmeet Singh had moved swiftly to his left at point to intercept a Bosisto cut and threw at the non-striker’s end. Head had run a long way down and was a few inches short when Aparajith broke the stumps even though he dived desperately. Australia were 103 for 5 in the 30th over and Head stormed off the field rapidly.

The mix-up did not fluster Bosisto, who forged another half-century partnership with the offspinner Turner, who was dropped on 2 when he tried to cut Aparajith and gave Smit Patel a reflex chance.

Passi returned for a third spell in the 35th over but his day did not improve. Bosisto pulled a short ball, it had taken him 71 balls to hit his first boundary. Until then, Bosisto had simply done what he’s good at, blocking most of the time and pushing the ball into gaps for singles. Chand turned to Sandeep soon after but the first over of his second spell went for 12 runs,with Turner steering and driving to the point and cover boundary. Australia were building momentum towards the finish. Bosisto picked up speed, sweeping both spinners and driving Sandeep for boundaries, to score 59 off his last 50 balls. Turner began to attack as well. He swung Sandeep for a huge six over the midwicket boundary - the bowler’s last five overs went for 46 runs - but was caught at cover soon after. Bosisto, however, remained unbeaten, steering his team to a competitive total in their bid to defend the World Cup.