Australia's Under-19 cricket team clinched victory in the World Cup final, marking their triumphant return to the top after 14 years by securing their fourth title. In a highly-anticipated match against India, the Australian team first took to bat, setting a challenging target of 254 runs. Despite their efforts, the Indian team was unable to meet the target, collapsing at 174 runs and experiencing a 79-run defeat. The loss was particularly felt by the Indian team, which had the opportunity to win their sixth U19 World Cup title but fell short in the final hurdle.
Australia's domination over India continues
The defeat added to India's recent string of disappointments, coming just three months after losing the ODI World Cup 2023 final to Australia. Pursuing a target of 254 runs, Indian opener Adarsh Singh contributed 47 runs off 77 balls, but the team's efforts unraveled as they lost 8 wickets for 122 runs by the 31.5 overs mark. Number 8 batter Murugan Abhishek attempted a late rally with 42 runs off 46 balls, but the match was already beyond reach.
A viral video showcasing the Indian players' resilience, featuring Murugan Abhishek and Naman Tiwari at the crease, highlighted their spirit. Despite the dire situation, Tiwari's message to Abhishek, "Guru, yaad rakhnaa, haarenge par seekh ke jayenge (Remember, we may lose but we will learn and go from here)" resonated with fans and went viral, offering a silver lining amid the disappointment.
Superb bowling display from Australia
Australia's bowling attack was spearheaded by seamer Mali Beardman, who took 3 wickets for 15 runs, supported by Raf McMillan with 3 wickets for 43 runs. Callum Widdler and Charlie Anderson also contributed with crucial wickets. From the batting side, Harjas Singh led with the highest score of 55 runs, with valuable contributions from Webb Gannon and opener Harry Dixon.
For India, Raj Limbani stood out with an impressive performance, taking 3 wickets for 38 runs, showcasing his potential despite the team's overall loss.
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