U19 World Cup 2024

Highlights: India overcome early stutter to crush Bangladesh in their U19 World Cup 2024 opener

by Wisden Staff January 21, 2024 - 5:38am 2 minute read

Highlights: Defending champions India overcame a poor start against Bangladesh to win their U19 World Cup 2024 opener, at Bloemfontein on January 20, by 84 runs.

In December 2023, Bangladesh had beaten India by four wickets in the semi-final of the U19 Asia Cup. India extracted their revenge at the World Cup five weeks later, with an 84-run win at the World Cup.

Asked to bat, India became 31-2 inside eight overs after Maruf Mridha struck twice in his first four overs. Captain Uday Saharan (64) joined Adarsh Singh (76) at this point, and the pair added 116 to set an excellent launching pad for the Indian middle order.

Wicketkeeper Aravelly Avanish (23 in 17 balls) and Sachin Dhas (26 not out in 20) then took India to 251-7. For Bangladesh, Mridha was the standout bowler with 5-43, the first five-wicket haul by a Bangladeshi seamer at the Under-19 World Cup against a Full Member.

Mridha had claimed 4-41 when Bangladesh beat India at the Asia Cup as well. From 12 U19 ODIs, he has claimed 26 wickets at 18 apiece.

Bangladesh raced to 38-0 in 40 balls in response before losing four wickets for 12 runs. Ariful Islam (41) and Mohammad Shihab James (54) added 77 for the fifth wicket, but by then the asking rate had threatened to touch eight.

The Indian left-arm spinners took over at this point. Musheer Khan (2-35) took out both Ariful and James, while Saumy Pandey (4-24), who had struck twice in his first spell, claimed two more wickets.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 167, and Adarsh was named the Player of the Match. In Group A, India (net run rate +1.68) are now placed second, after Ireland (one match, two points, net run rate +0.267), who beat the USA with 163 balls in hand.