U- 19 World Cup Potchefstroom ( South Africa): Yashasvi Jaiswal batted like a man among boys while Kartik Tyagi reminded Pakistan of Waqar Younisu2019s toe- crushing yorkers as defending champions India walloped their arch- rivals by 10 wickets to enter their seventh ICC U- 19 World Cup final here on Tuesday.
The gulf in class between the two sides was evident as Indian bowlers collectively choked Pakistan to a paltry 172 in 43.1 overs. Left- handed opener Jaiswal then showed his class with an unbeaten 105 off 113 balls, with an equally graceful Divyaansh Saxena ( 59 not out off 99 balls) supporting him in an easy chase, completed in only 35.2 overs.
u201c Itu2019s a dream come true for me. To be able to do this for my country is a great feeling.
To score a hundred against Pakistan in a World Cup semi- final is something I canu2019t put into words,u201d Jaiswal, who hit eight fours and four sixes, said after winning the Player of the Match award. India thus maintained their supremacy over Pakistan at the age- group and senior level in ICC tournamentsu2014 both men and women.
The Boys in Blue had reached the summit clash in 2000 ( winners), 2006 ( runners- up), 2008 ( winners), 2012 ( winners), 2016 ( runners- up) and 2018 ( winners).
The current batch with key players having already played senior representative cricket and five with IPL deals in their bag, showed the difference in skill level and application from their opponents, an aspect that could be attributed to the robust junior cricket structure put in place by none other than Rahul Dravid.
Jaiswal literally toyed with the bowling attack, hitting the Pakistani bowlers to all parts of the ground. The youngest Indian double centurion in List A cricket finished the game with a six, which also completed his hundred.
En route his hundred, pacer Abbas Afridi was effortlessly hit over deep mid- wicket for a six and then was pulled behind square for another six.
The Pakistan bowling attack was pedestrian at best and didnu2019t have much answers to the drives that flowed from Yashasviu2019s blade. Divyanshu2019s batting was also pleasing to the eye, playing the ball late.
u201c We were talking about how we needed to stick at the wicket.
They bowled well initially and we wanted to ride that out.
We knew we could dominate them after that,u201d Jaiswal added. The match as a contest was over in the first half when Pakistani batsmen had no answer to Tyagiu2019s pace and Ravi Bishnoiu2019s variations.
Pacer Tyagi ( 2- 32 in 8 overs) bowled yorkers at will while leg- spinner Bishnoi ( 2- 46 in 10 overs) was a difficult proposition to read.
Pakistan skipper Rohail Nazir ( 62 off 102 balls) and opener Haider Ali ( 56 off 77 balls) were the only ones to make significant contributions as their innings. While Tyagiu2019s scorching pace and Bishnoiu2019s googlies were eye- catching, left- arm spinner Atharva Ankolekar ( 1- 29 in 7 overs), left- arm seamer Sushant Mishra ( 3- 28 in 8.1 overs) and part- time leg- spinner Jaiswal ( 1- 11 in 3 overs) also kept the rival batsmen in check.
PTI u2018 Itu2019s a dream come true for me. To be able to do this for my country is a great feelingu2019 Yashasvi Jaiswal Jai ho, India! Yashasvi Jaiswal has no words to express his happiness after his unbeaten century helps India steamroll arch- rivals Pakistan by 10 wickets in semi- final Brief scores Pakistan 172 in 43.1 overs ( Rohail Nazir 62, Haider Ali 56; Sushant Mishra 3- 28, K Tyagi 2- 32, R Bishnoi 2- 46) lose to India 176- 0 in 35.2 overs ( Yashasvi Jaiswal 105', Divyaansh Saxena 59') by 10 wickets Coach Jwala gives Yashasvi u2018 10 on 10u2019 SUBODH MAYURE subodh. mayure@ mid- day. com YASHASVI Jaiswal does not prefer to have his coach Jwala Singh watch from the stands because the young batsman believes it makes him nervous.
However, on Tuesday, Jwala travelled all the way from Mumbai to Potchefstroom in South Africa to watch his ward play the biggest match of his careeru2014 the U- 19 World Cup semi- final against Pakistan. It was a surprise visit by Jaiswalu2019s coach and mentor and the talented ward did not disappoint, scoring a scintillating 105 not out to help India thrash their arch- rivals by 10 wickets.
u201c He is not aware that I am in South Africa watching this semi- final at the venue. It is now proved that his perception [ that he canu2019t score when his coach is there watching] is wrong. He played splendidly to take his team into the World Cup final,u201d Jwala told mid- day from Potchefstroom. u201c I will tell him that I will be staying in South Africa for the final and I am sure he will play in the same manner,u201d added Jwala.
Analysing Jaiswalu2019s knock, Jwala said: u201c This is one of his best knocks. Iu2019d give him a 10 on 10. There is always pressure when the opponent is Pakistan but Divyaansh [ Saxena, fellow opener] and he played very well. I had suggested to him that he should break his innings into two parts and take fresh guard after completing his half century.u201d Jwala Singh Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates hitting a century in the U- 19 World Cup semi- final v Pakistan at JB Marks Oval yesterday.
Pic/ Getty Imag es
