Cricket

ICC Under-19 World Cup 2022

Australia U-19 cricket team secured the third spot in the ICC U-19 World Cup after defeating Afghanistan U-19 by 2 wickets in a thrilling match that had taken place on Friday (February 4).&nbsp;Batting collapseBatting first, Afghanistan had registered a mere total of 201 runs on the board. Australia looked set to reach the score comfortably after they lost their second wicket at 113 but a batting collapse saw the Aussies lose 7 wickets within a span of just 83 runs.&nbsp;&nbsp;There was at a stage when Australia needed only nine runs with five wickets in hand but a batting disaster saw the game go down to the final over of the innings but eventually Australia won the match with 5 balls remaining.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier, Afghanistan had a poor start to their batting as they lost five wickets with just 85 runs on the board. At one point, Afghanistan were at 85 for 2 but a dismal batting show saw the Afghanistan team lose their next three wickets within a span of just 10 runs.&nbsp;Iajz Ahmad Ahmadzai played a crucial knock of 81 runs off 79 balls to help his side in reaching a respectable total. In the penultimate over of the innings, he was dismissed by Australia pacer William Salzmann.&nbsp;The 18-year-old right-arm pacer picked up three wickets in the match. On the other hand, Nivethan Radhakrishnan gave Salzmann a good support by scalping three wickets as well.&nbsp;The run chaseIn reply, Aussie opener Campbell Kellaway started the innings convincingly and scored a half century (51 runs off 82 balls) and later all-rounder Radhakrishnan played a vital knock of 66 runs off 96 balls. But a horrible Australia batting collapse almost helped the Afghanistan team in winning the match. At one point Aussies needed 40 runs to win off the final 10 overs but from there the game had a dramatic twist.&nbsp;Ultimately, the match came down to the final over with just two runs required and Australia bowler Josh Garner smashed a boundary on the first ball to clinch a thrilling victory for his side.&nbsp;For Afghanistan, their left-arm bowler Nangeyalia Kharote picked up three wickets as Shahidullah Hasani and Noor Ahmad claimed two wickets each.&nbsp;

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Australia survive late scare to secure nail-biting victory against Afghanistan in U-19 World Cup third-place playoff

The Under-19 ICC World Cup 2022 final between India and England is about to start within a few hours. Team India look confident to lift the prestigious trophy for the fifth time while England on the other hand have a challenge and they are ready to face a very strong team. The Indian team will surely not want to make the mistake of taking the English team lightly.&nbsp;&nbsp;The challengesWhenever Team India will remember this U-19 World Cup edition of 2022, it will be recalled as nothing less than a tough battle for them because the Indian players kept on moving ahead in the tournament even when the team members were battling the Covid-19 virus and most importantly they kept on performing well and continued to win vital matches.&nbsp;In a situation like this, before the final match, captain of the India U-19 team and Delhi-born batter, Yash Dhull gave &nbsp;a big statement about the preparations of the team. At the same time, Dhull has shared the message he got during the conversation with Virat Kohli and what he thinks now.&nbsp;“Virat Kohli gave us his best wishes for the final. We got confidence from that, the morale increases when a senior player like him talks to you. He told us how we can execute our plans and he told us about the basics of the game, it was a nice interaction with him," Dhull recalled during a virtual press conference.&nbsp;Preparations and mindsetWhile talking about the morale and mindset of the team, Dhull said that the “morale is high” and the players “will enter the contest with a positive frame of mind.”&nbsp;“The morale is high, everyone is excited about the game. We will enter the contest with a positive frame of mind. England played a close match against Afghanistan, we will make our own game plans. We will look to carry our form into the final. Our spinners are nice, we will look to execute our plans.&nbsp;"Everyone is ready to give their 100 per cent, we will enter the final with a positive mindset. We are here to represent the country. We have gotten more experienced, we now know the value of time and how to prepare mentally for big games. Our game has also improved, we have learnt how to deal with pressure," he added.

'The morale increases when a senior player like him talks to you,' India U-19 skipper Yash Dhull recalls interaction with Virat Kohli

It has been nothing less than a sensational run for India Under-19 skipper Yash Dhull in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2022. Leading the team successfully to record fifth World Cup title is undoubtedly the stuff dreams are made of but there are more dimensions to Dhull that make him a future prospect.&nbsp;&nbsp;Showcasing terrific batting skills has been another significant point of Dhull that cannot be overlooked at all. The Delhi-born batter could not carry his semi-final and contributed with a 17-run knock in the 46-run partnership for the third wicket against England in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2022 final. However, he showed his class in the semi-final clash against Australia with a record-equalling 110-run knock. &nbsp;&nbsp;The backgroundBefore becoming the leader of the Indian side, Dhull had played in multiple age-group tournaments. Previously, during one particular U-19 event, in Nepal, 15-year-old Dhull had bagged the player of the series award as well.&nbsp;Later, in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, which was played in 2021, Dhull scored 302 runs in five games for the Delhi state team, at an average of 75.50 for his side.&nbsp;World Cup journeyThe 19-year-old skipper started the World Cup on a positive note after he scored 82 runs off 100 balls against South Africa in the first match of the tournament. Indian team eventually managed to secure a 45-run victory in the match.&nbsp;In the second match of the event, India did win the match against Ireland but they did not have skipper Dhull in the squad as he missed out on the game after testing positive for the Covid-19 virus.&nbsp;&nbsp;But the virus could not do much damage to Dhull’s batting and certainly there was no change in his mindset either. After recovering and regaining full fitness, Dhull was back to the field against Bangladesh in the quarter-final. The Indian bowling lineup did a tremendous job to restrict the defending champions for a paltry total of 111 runs in 37.1 overs.&nbsp;&nbsp;In reply, India reached the target with 115 balls remaining and skipper Dhull contributed with an unbeaten 20 off 26 balls.&nbsp;But he probably had kept his best performance in reserve and was waiting for the right moment to unleash it. In the semi-final against Australia, Dhull played a terrific innings of 110 runs off 110 balls as Indian team reached a formidable total of 290 runs for five wickets in 50 overs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dhull came down to bat when his side were reeling at 37/2 in 12.3 overs. He shared a superb partnership of 204 runs off 200 balls along with Shaik Rasheed (94 runs off 108 balls) to help India put on a good total. Dhull showed maturity and remarkable composure during his innings as he became only the third Indian skipper to hit a ton in the U-19 World Cup and in doing so, Dhull joined an elite list which was occupied by Virat Kohli and Unmukt Chand.&nbsp;Eventually, Indian team won the match by 96 runs and secured their place for the final.&nbsp;In the final gameIn the final match, Dhull could not perform to the best of his abilities with the bat. He was spot on with his bowling changes and field settings `but could score only 17 runs in the tricky run chase.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is difficult to say whether Dhull’s victory in the U-19 World Cup will be remembered as the best or not but it is needless to say that his leadership and batting will be remembered by the fans and followers of the game for a long time.&nbsp;

Under-19 World Cup: The boy from Delhi who led Indian team to glory in West Indies

Raj Bawa delivered his best performance with the ball to help India get their hands on the Under-19 World Cup trophy for the fifth time. Raj, who hails from Himachal Pradesh, is the son of former India's star batsman Yuvraj Singh's coach Sukhwinder Singh. Bawa not only created a world record by showing the way to the pavilion to five England batters, but in the run chase he scored a crucial 35-run knock to help Yash Dhull-led side recover from wickets in middle overs. With solid performance in big game, the all-rounder is now being called the future 'Yuvraj Singh' because the way left-handed batter bats. Apart from this, Raj is also a pace bowler which makes him a huge prospect for the future.&nbsp;Raj creates world recordBawa made England skipper Tom Prest regret his decision to bat first as he picked up five wickets for 31 runs in 9.1 overs. With a sensational bowling performance, he became the only Indian to take a fifer in the final of an ICC tournament. He also broke the 16-year-old record of Pakistan’s Anwar Ali by registering the best bowling figures in an ICC U-19 World Cup final, Ali took four wickets for 35 runs in the 2006 edition of the tournament.&nbsp;Impact performances throughout tournamentRaj’s fifer helped India bundle out England for 189 in the final which was chased down in the 48th over. In the tournament, Raj scored 252 runs and took nine wickets in six matches. He also broke Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan’s record with his 162-run knock against Uganda.&nbsp;&nbsp;Raj's grandfather is an Olympic gold medallistRaj's grandfather Trilochan Bawa was a member of the Indian hockey team that won the gold medal at the 1948 London Olympics, while Raj's father Sukhwinder Singh tried his hand at both cricket and hockey. Not only this, Raj's father is also the childhood coach of former India star batter Yuvraj Singh. After making a splash in domestic cricket in his age group, Raj was selected in the Under-19 World Cup team. Raj considers Yuvraj as his idol.&nbsp;Like Yuvraj, Raj also wears the jersey number 12. In the year 2000, when Mohammad Kaif-led U-19 team India captured the title, Yuvraj Singh also did wonders with the ball and bat. Yuvraj took 12 wickets after scoring 203 runs and was adjudged the player of the tournament.&nbsp;

Grandfather won Olympic gold, now 19-year-old touted as future 'Yuvraj Singh' makes India World Champion

It has been a remarkable journey for skipper Yash Dhull and his boys in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2022 as India U-19 team defeated England U-19 in the final match of the tournament by 4 wickets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Indian team claimed their fifth U-19 World Cup title after beating England in the mega final.&nbsp;&nbsp;The previous four titles and how India became championsIn the 2000 edition of the event, the Indian team had played in the final match for the first time and the Mohammad Kaif-led side had won the maiden U-19 World Cup in that edition after defeating Sri Lanka in the final by 6 wickets. Batting first, Sri Lanka U-19 team had registered a total of 178 runs and in reply, Indian team lost four wickets to successfully reach the target. India’s Reetinder Singh Sodhi was adjudged the Man of the Match.&nbsp;In 2008, the Virat Kohli-led side defeated South Africa U-19 team in the final match by 12 runs (D/L method). Batting first, India registered a paltry total of 159 runs. But a superb bowling display exhibited by the Indian bowlers helped to clinch the second U-19 World Cup title.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2012, the Indian team under the leadership of Unmukt Chand had reached the final again and eventually they were champions as they had defeated Australia U-19 team by six wickets. Batting first, the Aussies registered a formidable total of 225 runs losing eight wickets. In reply, the Indian team reached the target losing only four wickets and skipper Chand was rewarded with the Man of the Match award.&nbsp;In 2018, the Prithvi Shaw-led Indian side defeated Australia U-19 by 8 wickets to clinch the trophy for fourth time. Batting first, the Aussies registered a total of 216 runs. In reply, Indian team successfully chased down the total losing just two wickets. India’s Manjot Kalra was given the Man of the Match award for his terrific century.&nbsp;Two more final matchesApart from these four times, India team also reached the final on two more occasions.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2006, India team did reach the final but they had to concede a 38-run defeat against arch-rivals Pakistan in the final clash. Batting first, Pakistan U-19 team registered a mere total of 109 runs but in reply, India U-19 team could only score 71 runs. &nbsp;&nbsp;In 2016, Indian U-19 team played in the final match once again. Indian team that had players like- Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Sarfaraz Khan and many other prominent names, were the favourites to win the trophy. But a poor batting display in the final, saw the Indian team score just 145 runs against West Indies. Eventually, India lost the final by 5 wickets.&nbsp;

After Kohli, Kaif, Chand and Shaw, India get their fifth U-19 World Cup champion: The story of five finals

Afghanistan Under-19 players have sought asylum from England after they landed in the country on their way back to their homeland. The stars of the U-19 team arrived in England after finishing fourth in the U-19 World Cup; Afghanistan's highest ever finish in an International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament at any level. In the recent period, the political power of Afghanistan is led by the Taliban, an Islamic Emirate in the country. The country's recent political instability has led to many people migrating to foreign nations seeking asylum. The names of the players are still unknown, but they are joined by staff members who are also trying to stay away from the country. Political activities since 2020 have tarnished the reputation of Afghanistan leading to criticism from all over the world. It is believed that players from the current team are worried about Human Rights violations and breach of their freedom. Afghanistan narrowly lost to Australia in a tight U-19 third-place playoff by two wickets. Scoring 201, Australia's U-19 team found it tough in the match to get over the line as Nangeyalia Kharote (35/3), Noor Ahmed (43/2) and Shahidullah Hasani (44/2) all were at their fluent best, but couldn't guide their team to victory. Earlier, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai scored 81 of 79 deliveries as Afghanistan went in excess of 200. The U-19 World Cup was a success story for the Afghanistan side. Sulaiman Safi ended as their highest scorer in the tournament with 227 runs at an average of 37.83 with a best score of 111 in six matches at the tournament. In the bowling department, Kharote ended as their highest wicket-taker with 11 scalps to his name and best figures of 30/4 against the West Indies. Izharullaq Naveed and Noor Ahmad also ended with double figures in the bowling department with 10 wickets each. While the stars of the nation search for asylum, their performances didn't go unnoticed. In six matches at the tournament, they had luck on their side against Sri Lanka in quarter-final as they won by four runs before the playoff defeat to Australia. The only other defeat Afghanistan faced was against Pakistan in the group stage.

Afghanistan U-19 players seek asylum as they refuse to travel back home

The U-19 World Cup has reached its business end as teams are buying to finish as high as possible. UAE were successful in clinching the final of the Plate competition, while hosts West Indies secured 11th place by beating Zimbabwe in the ongoing U-19 World Cup. Despite a hundred from Ariful Islam, defending champions Bangladesh were no match to Pakistan as they bowed out on low in the second Super League playoff.&nbsp;Pakistan make light work of Bangladesh as Ariful Islam's ton goes wastePakistan bowlers Awais Ali and Mehran Mumtaz were in full swing on Monday (January 31) as they scalped wickets at regular intervals. The duo picked three wickets each as the Bangladesh batting lineup had a horrible time. Only three batters scored more than 10 runs; despite the team facing miserable time. Islam was the silver lining on the dark cloud with his hundred as Bangladesh managed only 175.&nbsp;Pakistan didn't have too many troubles in getting past the total, as Muhammad Shehzad (36) and Haseebullah Khan (79) made sure the Men in Green got over the line. They put together an opening stand of 76 runs before Abdul Faseeh (22) and Abbas Ali (5) saw Pakistan home as they won by six wickets.&nbsp;UAE clinch Plate finalThe Plate final turned out to be one-way traffic, as UAE beat Ireland by eight wickets. Batting first, Ireland batters were no match to the quality of UAE bowlers as Jash Giyanani, Adhitya Shetty and Dhruv Parashar all ended with two wickets each. Jack Dickson top-scored with 40 runs for the Irish side before they were restricted to a mere total of 122.&nbsp;UAE made sure the target was reached within 26 overs as Kai Smith (49) and Punya Mehra (48) took the initiative. Mehra remained unbeaten while UAE completed the run chase with Nilansh Keswani unbeaten on six, as they clinched the Plate final.&nbsp;Hosts secure 11th placeTeddy Bishop (112) and Kevin Wickham (104) were flamboyant for the hosts West Indies as they secured 11th place in the tournament. Asked to chase 257 runs, the two batters combined for a second-wicket partnership of 194 runs as both Bishop and Wickham ended with tons. While Bishop remained unbeaten, Rivaldo Clarke joined him to take the team home with four balls to spare as the West Indies won by eight wickets.&nbsp;Earlier, Zimbabwe had put together 256/4, as David Bennett (77) and Conor Mitchell (42) made significant contributions to the total. Brian Bennett also scored a fifty with a 62-run knock but was only enough to clinch the 12th spot.&nbsp;On Tuesday, England take on Afghanistan in the first semi-final at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. The winner will play in the showpiece final on Saturday, against either India or Australia.

U-19 WC: Bangladesh surrender despite Ariful Islam's ton as Pakistan reach Super League playoff final, West Indies finish 11th

In a cracker of a match, England downed Afghanistan by 15 runs (DL method) to cement their spot in Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup final. This is the first time since 1998 that England have reached the final.&nbsp;Rehan Ahmed turned the tide for England at a crucial point as he snared three wickets in the second last over when Afghanistan required only 18 runs from the last 10 balls.&nbsp;Batting first, the Young Lions rode on George Thomas' impressive 50 off 69 balls as they were off to a good start. Later, George Bell chipped in with an unbeaten 56 off 67 balls which was well complemented by another unbeaten innings by Alex Horton who hit a quickfire 53 off mere 36 balls which helped England muster 231 for the loss of six wickets in their stipulated 47 overs.&nbsp;Noor Ahmed (2/32) and Naveed Zadran (2/67) ramained the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan who didn't let England put a big score on the board.&nbsp;Meanwhile, chasing a not so big target of 232, Afghanistan suffered an early jolt at the score of 1 in the form of opener Nangeyalia Kharote (0) but they somehow managed to get hold of the situation as Mohammad Ishaq (43 off 65) and Allah Noor (60 off 87) stitched together a half-century partnership to cruise their side to a score of 100 in 24 overs.&nbsp;But England made a comeback and sent three of the Afghan batters in the next 12 runs. Afghanistan again launched a fightback when Abdul Hadi (37 off 60) and Bilal Ahmed (33 off 34) provided resistance in the middle.&nbsp;But, Afghans again wilted under pressure as the lower order wobbled which gave England a chance to return in the match. Afghanistan needed 18 runs in the last over to win and their last pair was on the field. Finally, England had the last laugh as they clinch the issue by 15 runs.

England stifle Afghanistan to cruise into U-19 World Cup final after 24 years

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to send five reserve players to West Indies for the ongoing Under-19 World Cup 2022, a source confirmed to Sports Tak. The decision has been taken after six players tested positive for the virus and were isolated before India’s clash against Ireland.&nbsp;&nbsp;Udhay Saran, Abhishek Porel, Rishith Reddy, Ansh Gosai and PM Singh Rathore are five players who will be going to the Caribbean as reserve players. However, it is yet to be decided whether they will be available for selection straight away or not given the Covid guidelines.&nbsp;&nbsp;Out of the six players that tested positive, Vasu Vats’ report has returned negative whereas other five still remain in isolation. Skipper Yash Dhull, vice-captain Shaik Rasheed, Sidharth Yadav, Manav Parakh, Aaradhya Yadav are still in isolation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite missing six key players from the squad, India won their second group encounter against Ireland by a comfortable margin of 174 runs under the leadership of Nishant Sindhu on January 19.&nbsp;&nbsp;India have already qualified for the knockouts with two consecutive wins but they still have a group encounter left against Uganda which is scheduled to be played on January 22. It is unlikely that all the players who tested positive for the virus will return for the game against Uganda. Meanwhile, all players who took the field against Ireland have tested negative and will play against Uganda.&nbsp;&nbsp;The knockout stages of the tournament will begin from January 25. There is a possibility that the Covid-positive players maybe able to recover and play in the knockout clash. Otherwise India will face a tough road ahead to win their fifth Under-19 World Cup title.&nbsp;&nbsp;India U-19 Playing XI vs Ireland: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Harnoor Singh, Raj Bawa, Nishant Sindhu (c), Kaushal Tambe, Dinesh Bana (wk), Garv Sangwan, Vicky Ostwal, Aneeshwar Gautam, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravi Kumar

BCCI to send five reserve players for U-19 World Cup as Covid cover

India U-19 team have already qualified for the last-eight stage of the ICC U-19 World Cup but their final Group B fixture against Uganda is still providing the Indian team management some headache as they will have to choose 11 players out of just 12 players.&nbsp;Indian team have been hugely impacted by the Covid-19 virus five of their players had earlier tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.&nbsp;&nbsp;India team have two wins from their two matches and might not face too much difficulty while facing the Uganda cricket team. The Uganda team are yet to win a single match in the ongoing World Cup as they lost their two matches in the tournament so far.&nbsp;Victory against South AfricaIn the first match against South Africa, the Yash Dhull-led side batted first and registered a total of 232 runs in 47 overs. Skipper Dhull played a brilliant innings of 82 runs off 100 balls and later Kaushal Tambe notched 35 runs off 44 deliveries to take his side to a fightable position.&nbsp;&nbsp;In reply, Indian bowlers exhibited an amazing bowling display as they bundled out their opponents within just 187 runs.&nbsp;India’s left-arm bowler Vicky Ostwal picked up five wickets and fast bowler Raj Bawa scalped four wickets to earn a crucial victory for their team. Another Indian medium pacer Rajvardhan Hangargekar picked up the other wicket.&nbsp;In the second match of the event, Indian team successfully kept their winning momentum alive as they thrashed the Ireland side by a whopping margin of 174 runs.&nbsp;Batting first, Indian opening pair registered a total of 164 runs. Opening batsman Angkrish Raghuvanshi was the first to be dismissed after the Delhi-born batter scored 79 runs off 79 balls. Another opening batsman Harnoor Singh looked set to score a century but eventually he was sent back to the dressing room after playing a brilliant innings of 88 runs off 101 balls.&nbsp;&nbsp;Later, Bawa (42 off 64 balls) and skipper Nishant Sindhu (36 off 34 balls) helped the Indian team in reaching a big total of 307 runs losing five wickets in 50 overs.&nbsp;Superb bowlingIn reply, Irish batsmen were in deep trouble as they lost their first six wickets within just 66 runs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Indian bowling attack carried forward their terrific display as they bundled out their opponents within just 133 runs.&nbsp;Against Uganda, on Saturday (January 22) Indian team will look forward to keep their winning momentum intact. With their both bowling and batting units doing a terrific job it should not be too difficult for the Indian team to register three back-to-back victories in the World Cup.&nbsp;

Covid-hit Indian team aim for third victory as they face Uganda in the U-19 World Cup

The Australia team defeated Pakistan by 119 runs in the ICC U-19 World Cup, on January 28 (Friday) to qualify for the Super League semi finals. Australia became the third side, after Afghanistan and England to qualify for the semi final stage.&nbsp;Pakistan skipper Qasim Akram won the toss and elected to bowl first but the decision did not seem to pay off as the Aussies started their batting on a convincing note. Their openers- Campbell Kellaway (47 runs off 63 balls) and Teague Wyllie (71 runs off 97 deliveries) showed amazing batting skills to give a good start to their side’s batting. Eventually, the opening partnership of 86 runs was broken as skipper Akram dismissed Kellaway in the 17th over of the match.&nbsp;Skipper picks up second wicketCorey Miller (64 runs off 75 balls) gave a good support to Wyllie but ultimately Miller was also sent back to the dressing room as Akram picked up his second dismissal of the game.&nbsp;&nbsp;Wyllie on the other hand, looked set to score a century but he was dismissed by Awais Ali in the 38th over of the innings. The 17-year-old, right-handed batsman attempted to play a shot through leg side but he failed to connect successfully and as a result of it the ball hit the stumps. His innings was comprised of 8 boundaries.&nbsp;Later, William Salzmann played a courageous knock of 25 runs off 14 deliveries (1 boundary and 2 sixes) to help his side in reaching a formidable total of 276 runs losing 7 wickets.&nbsp;Pakistan skipper Akram turned out to be the best bowler of his side after he managed to pick up three wickets conceding 40 runs.&nbsp;The run chaseIn reply, Pakistan team could not manage to get a good start after they lost their two opening batsmen- Muhammad Shehzad (9 runs off 7 balls) and wicketkeeper Haseebullah Khan (10 runs off 10 balls) - within a total of just 27 runs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Abdul Faseeh (28 runs off 44 balls) and Irfan Khan (27 runs off 42 balls) tried to do something constructive but their partnership of 50 runs off 71 balls did not help much eventually as their side could reach to a total of 157 runs ultimately, in 35.1 overs.&nbsp;For Australia, their 18-year-old bowler, Salzmann emerged as the bowler after he picked up three wickets in the match.&nbsp;

Pakistan crash out of U-19 WC as Australia secure a convincing 119-run victory to qualify for semi-final

An earthquake was felt during the ICC U-19 World Cup match that was being played between Zimbabwe and Ireland at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, in Trinidad, on January 29 (Saturday). Although, the match was not stopped. It was reported that the earthquake took place off the coast of Port of Spain and resulted in mild tremors. The 5.2 magnitude earthquake occurred around 9:40 am on Saturday morning.&nbsp;&nbsp;The reactionsThe players did not realize the earthquake but the commentators were heard talking about it. The incident took place when Ireland spin bowler Matthew Humphreys was bowling the penultimate ball of his sixth over to Ireland’s Brain Bennett.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the match, Zimbabwe U-19 skipper Emmanuel Bawa won the toss and elected to bat first. But the decision did not pay off as the Zimbabwe batsmen could not put up any resistance in front of Humphreys and Muzamil Sherzad. Zimbabwe innings came to an end in the 49th over after they managed to register a total of 166 runs losing their all 10 wickets.&nbsp;Only four of the Zimbabwe batsmen- Steven Paul (24 runs off 41 balls), Bruan Bennett (37 runs off 56 balls), David Bennett (35 runs off 59 balls) and Tendekai Mataranyika (11 runs off 35 balls) – could manage to reach the double-digit mark. &nbsp;&nbsp;19-year-old, fast bowler, Sherzad claimed five wickets in the match as Humphreys picked up three wickets. &nbsp;A more disciplined bowling from the Irish bowlers could have made things for them after they conceded 24 runs as extras.&nbsp;Easy run chaseIn reply; Ireland lost only two wickets and reached the target within 32 overs. Jack Dickson played a superb knock of 76 runs (not out) off 88 balls (8 boundaries and 3 sixes). Along with, Dickson, skipper Tim Tector played a solid innings of 76 runs (not out) off 94 balls.&nbsp;Tector’s innings was comprised of 8 boundaries and a solitary six.&nbsp;The two batsmen registered a huge partnership of 159 runs off 174 balls to claim victory for the Ireland team. For Zimbabwe, their two bowlers Mcgini Dube (1/32) and Tendekai Mataranyika (1/31) picked up a wicket each.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ireland’s victory helped them in reaching the Plate Final.

U-19 World Cup: Earthquake felt at Ireland-Zimbabwe match at Queen's Park Oval

India Under-19 captain in the ongoing World Cup in West Indies, Yash Dhull and five other players have tested positive for Covid-19. The six Indian players including Dhull and vice captain Shaik Rasheed tested positive before India’s second encounter of U-19 World Cup against Ireland on January 19 at Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad.&nbsp;&nbsp;The India vs Ireland game went ahead despite the outbreak of novel coronavirus in the Indian camp. In Dhull’s absence, Nishant Sindhu took over the captaincy against Ireland.&nbsp;&nbsp;The medical status of the six members is as below:&nbsp;1. Sidharth Yadav - RT-PCR Test result has returned positive.2. Manav Parakh - Has shown symptoms. His RT-PCR test result is awaited. Rapid Antigen Test result has returned negative.3. Vasu Vats - Has shown symptoms. His RT-PCR test result is awaited. Rapid Antigen Test result has returned negative.4. Yash Dhull - Rapid Antigen Test result has returned positive.5. Aaradhya Yadav - Rapid Antigen Test result has returned positive6. SK Rasheed - Rapid Antigen Test result has returned positive&nbsp;The Irish skipper Tim Tector won the toss and opted to field first. Indian openers Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harnoor Singh got the side off to an impressive start with 164-run opening partnership. Raghuvanshi scored 79 whereas Harnoor scored 88 as they failed to breach the three figures.&nbsp;Earlier India got off to a winning start against South Africa with a comfortable 45-run win on January 15 at Providence Stadium, Guyana.&nbsp;India's next clash is against Uganda on January 22. It is unlikely that the six players will recover in time for India's third group encounter. However, with knockout stages starting from January 25, India are expected to be back to their original strength. &nbsp;&nbsp;India U-19 Playing XI vs Ireland: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Harnoor Singh, Raj Bawa, Nishant Sindhu (c), Kaushal Tambe, Dinesh Bana (wk), Garv Sangwan, Vicky Ostwal, Aneeshwar Gautam, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravi Kumar

India U-19 captain and five other players test positive for Covid-19

Delhi-born batter Yash Dhull recently led the Indian U-19 team in the ICC U-19 World Cup and under his captaincy, team India defeated England in the final to clinch the World Cup for the fifth time. And now the U-19 World Cup-winning skipper has been selected for the Delhi team for the upcoming Ranji Trophy. In a situation like this, Dhull spoke to Sports Tak in an exclusive interview and discussed multiple topics.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dhull's inspirationWhile talking about his inspiration, Dhull said that former India skipper Virat Kohli is his “idol” and he loves Kohli’s “style and aggression.”&nbsp;“I love Kohli bhaiyya's style and his aggression. He is also my idol and I like his body language in the team. I also like that a lot,” Dhull expressed.&nbsp;&nbsp;New targetThe international matches might have been over for Dhull for the time being but there is no time for him to rest as the World Cup-winning skipper is set to feature for the Delhi team in Ranji Trophy and also he will have his eyes set on the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auctions as well. The IPL 2022 mega auctions will take place in Bengaluru, on February 12 and 13.&nbsp;&nbsp;While talking about winning the U-19 World Cup, Dhull said that “it is now past” and he wants to think about “how to move forward.”&nbsp;"Winning the World Cup is now past. I am now thinking about how to move forward. Because I have got a place in Delhi Ranji team and now there is a lot to do ahead,” Dhull explained&nbsp;During the World Cup, Dhull and other players were found to be positive for the Covid-19 virus. While recalling the period, Dhull said that they “were a little nervous at that time" but “the bonding was great and helped us move forward”&nbsp;“When all of us were found to be corona positive, we were a little nervous at that time. But everyone knows that VVS Laxman sir was present with us. He talked to us a lot and kept us mentally strong, which helped us a lot and was always a team player. We stayed connected to each other, so the bonding was great and helped us move forward,” Dhull recalled.&nbsp;

Exclusive: U19 World Cup-winning captain Yash Dhull inspired by Virat Kohli, says 'he is my idol'

Indian team’s journey in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2022 has been absolutely remarkable and for skipper Yash Dhull, his batsmen and bowlers contributed heavily as team India lifted the U-19 World Cup trophy for the fifth time after defeating England U-19 team in the final by 4 runs.&nbsp;Squad depthApart from the stellar performances, another significant aspect of the Indian team has been its squad depth. Despite missing some players due to the Covid-19 virus, Indian team did not lose a single match and successfully kept the winning momentum alive.&nbsp;Indian batting unit had some terrific batters like, opening batsman Angkrish Raghuvanshi, middle-order batsman Raj Bawa and skipper Yash Dhull.&nbsp;Numbers and factsRaghuvanshi scored 278 runs in 6 matches in the tournament. His highest score of 144 took place against Uganda U-19 team. In that match, the Delhi-born batter scored 144 runs off 120 balls and smashed 22 boundaries and 4 sixes. He scored 44 runs against Bangladesh in a tricky run chase and helped his side in successfully chasing the target.&nbsp;&nbsp;Raghuvanshi played another terrific innings of 79 runs off 79 balls against Ireland U-19 team. His innings was comprised of 10 boundaries and 2 sixes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, for the Indian team has been Himachal Pradesh-born Raj Bawa. The 19-year-old batsman scored 252 runs in 5 matches in the event. His highest score was 162 (not out) against Uganda U-19. In that match, Raj had smashed 14 boundaries and 8 sixes. Raj also played a solid innings of 42 runs off 64 balls against Ireland.&nbsp;Dhull leading from the frontSkipper Yash Dhull, despite being tested positive for the Covid-19 virus and subsequently missing two matches, is not far behind in the list as he scored 229 runs in the U-19 World Cup, in 4 matches. Skipper’s highest score of 110 took place against Australia in the semi-final and because of his heroics Indian team managed to reach a solid total of 290 runs. Things looked a bit difficult for Indian team in that game after losing two openers pretty early but skipper Dhull led from the front with his bat and eventually helped his side in clinching a memorable win.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the first match of the event, against South Africa, Dhull played a brilliant innings of 82 runs off 100 deliveries. &nbsp;&nbsp;Indian batting's spectacular show in the U-19 World Cup gave &nbsp;a brilliant support to the bowling unit as it eventually helped Indian team in emerging as the world champions.

U-19 World Cup: Three Indian batsmen who led the batting unit

The India U-19 team led by Yash Dhull scripted an amazing achievement after winning the ICC U-19 World Cup 2022 by beating England in the final by 4 wickets. Indian team might have kept their winning momentum intact in their World Cup journey but in no way it has been an easy outing for them. From facing a huge blow due to Covid-19 virus to maintaining a strong diet chart, it has been an arduous task for Dhull and his boys.&nbsp;While talking about their diet chart, Dhull shared a funny anecdote during the post-match presentation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dhull speaks&nbsp;“The ice cream has reached the rooms of every player, we will have and enjoy ice creams now. We had to maintain a strict diet for this tournament so now we will enjoy some ice cream,” said the U-19 India team skipper after the match, during a post-match presentation.&nbsp;“It is a proud moment for everyone, we had to struggle hard, but every player had a strong mindset. Everyone in this camp is mentally strong so that is why we were able to achieve this feat,” Delhi-born Dhull added.&nbsp;A tough startThe skipper did admit that “it was difficult at the start to get the combination right” but the players were prompt enough to “become a family.”&nbsp;“It was difficult at the start to get the combination right, but as time went on we became a family and the team atmosphere was good."&nbsp;Indian fast bowler Raj Bawa picked up five wickets in the final match and regarding his performance, Dhull said that Bawa “takes the batter by surprise through his bouncers."&nbsp;"Raj Bawa has an important role as an all-rounder. His mindset is really good and he has full confidence in his game. Bawa takes the batter by surprise through his bouncers.”&nbsp;Shaik Rasheed, on the other hand, did a brilliant job with the bat as he scored 50 runs off 84 balls to secure victory for Indian team in the final.&nbsp;&nbsp;While talking about Rasheed, the skipper revealed some interesting events.&nbsp;"Rasheed is my best friend, we have dinners together. When we were batting together in the final, the thought was to take it deep and then finish it five-seven overs earlier. We were dismissed but Nishant Sindhu played well. In the field, Rasheed kept suggesting me and it helped me to have a free mind. It also gave me confidence that I am making the right decisions," Dhull explained.

'The ice cream has reached the rooms of every player,' India U-19 skipper Yash Dhull talks about his team's preparations and shares a funny anecdote

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly congratulated the India U-19 team after the 'Boys in Blue' triumphed to win the fifth U-19 World Cup. The final played in Antigua saw Yash Dhull's men edge past England by four wickets to win the final. Ganguly wished the support staff who were the unsung heroes in India's triumph against England. The BCCI President took to his Twitter handle to congratulate the team.&nbsp;Ganguly's tweet "Congratulations to the under 19 team and the support staff and the selectors for winning the world cup in such a magnificent way...The cash prize announced by us of 40 lakhs is a small token of appreciation but their efforts are beyond value .. magnificent stuff..@bcci," Ganguly's tweet read. The Indian team kept their unbeaten streak intact in the tournament winning all six encounters, despite having initial struggles with Covid-19. The final was the junior team's fourth on the bounce and fifth in six editions. The young players had all the ingredients to form a successful recipe, although they struggled in the final but eventually a superb combined performance made sure that the lads had enough in the tank to secure the victory. &nbsp;Jay Shah on TwitterBCCI secretary Jay Shah also congratulated the team on Twitter and rewarded them with Rs 40 lakhs per player. This was India's fifth title at the junior level after winning in 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018. History suggests that U-19 players have gone on to achieve big things in the future. Prominent figures like Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli were all successful at junior level before they went on to succeed in bigger tournaments. The victory in the final was sealed with a six by Dinesh Bana, reminding the final of the 2011 World Cup when Dhoni earned the 2011 ODI World Cup. Star players like Vicky Ostwal, Dhull, Bawa are already attracting plenty of headlines in the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ravichandran Ashwin has already predicted that players from the current U-19 team will get big bids in the upcoming auctions of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ashwin tipped Rajvardhan Hangargekar to go big and attract five to ten bidders.

'Their efforts are beyond value,' Sourav Ganguly congratulates World Cup-winning India U-19 team

The Yash Dhull-led India colts extended their dominance by lifting a record fifth ICC Under-19 World Cup crown as they defeated England in the final clash by four wickets and since then the celebration across the country is just not stopping.&nbsp;&nbsp;After the U-19 World Cup glory, now Yash has been rewarded with something new. The Upstox Most Valuable Team of the Tournament has been named with victorious captain Yash Dhull chosen to skipper a line-up of future stars.&nbsp;Overall, eight nations are represented in the 12-strong line up as champions India lead the way with three players included.Pace is provided by the likes of Josh Boyden, Awais Ali and Ripon Mondol with all-rounders Tom Prest and Dunith Wellalage the spin options alongside Vicky Ostwal.&nbsp;South Africa’s Dewald Brevis was announced as the Player of the Tournament for the ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 in West Indies for his record-breaking run haul.&nbsp;The side was pulled together by a selection panel including commentators Samuel Badree, Natalie Germanos, ICC Match Referee Graeme Labrooy and journalist Sandipan Banerjee.&nbsp;The team of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 (in batting order) is:Haseebullah Khan (Wicketkeeper, Pakistan) Teague Wyllie (Australia) Dewald Brevis (South Africa)Yash Dhull (Captain, India) Tom Prest (England) Dunith Wellalage (Sri Lanka) Raj Bawa (India) Vicky Ostwal (India) Ripon Mondol (Bangladesh) Awais Ali (Pakistan) Josh Boyden (England) Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)&nbsp;The right-hander takes up his place at number four having hit 229 runs in the competition, including one century, and his deployment of his bowlers was crucial in leading his side to overall victory in the tournament.&nbsp;His opposite number in the final, England’s Tom Prest, sits one place below them in the batting order of the Upstox Most Valuable Team of the Tournament having hit 292 runs in six games, the third most of the competition.&nbsp;Dewald Brevis, a right-handed batter, received the accolade of Player of the Tournament after crashing 506 runs across six matches to become only the second player to hit over 500 runs at an Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.&nbsp;In doing so, the 18-year-old passed Indian legend Shikhar Dhawan’s total for the most runs in a single tournament, hitting one more run than Dhawan managed in 2004.&nbsp;Brevis also took seven wickets in the competition returning best figures of 2-18 against Uganda during the group stages.Haseebullah Khan from Pakistan is named as one of the openers after scoring 380 runs across the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, his high score of 136 one of two centuries he made in the tournament, Brevis was the only other batter to make two centuries.&nbsp;Haseebullah is also selected as the wicketkeeper having taken eight catches and two stumpings, the fourth best return of the competition.His opening partner is Australia’s Teague Wyllie who tied with Angkrish Raghuvanshi for 278 runs, the joint fourth-most of the tournament.&nbsp;Wyllie hit 39 fours, the second most, including eight in his 101 not out against Scotland, one of three fifty-plus scores in the tournament.Dunith Wellalage earns his place in the middle order after a star turn as an all-rounder hitting the most runs for Sri Lanka in the tournament with 264, also taking the most wickets by any bowler with 17.&nbsp;Wellalage also captained his Sri Lanka side to sixth place, their best result in three editions, and he was the only bowler to take two fivefers, doing so against Scotland and Australia.&nbsp;Raj Bawa is another all-rounder who has impressed throughout the World Cup, hitting a tournament-high 162 not out against Uganda, on his way to 252 runs for the competition.&nbsp;Bawa was Player of the Match in the final against England taking five for 31 to put India in a strong position and take his wicket tally to nine.&nbsp;Just below him in the line-up is teammate Vicky Ostwal who took 12 wickets across his six matches with his left-arm orthodox including five for 28 against South Africa.&nbsp;Bangladesh’s representative in the team comes in the form of right-arm seamer Ripon Mondol, who took wickets in all but one of Bangladesh’s games.And, against Canada and India he took four-fers to end the tournament on 14 wickets, the joint third-highest of the 2022 competition.&nbsp;The other bowler who sits above him in the wicket standings is Awais Ali of Pakistan who claimed 15 wickets in his six matches, including six for 56, one of only two six-fers in the tournament.The right-arm medium pacer opened up the tournament with those six wickets against Zimbabwe and was consistent as Pakistan finished in the top five for the fifth consecutive competition.&nbsp;England’s Josh Boyden earns his place for his extremely economical bowling, chalking up 15 wickets in the tournament with an economy of 3.21 and an average of 9.86, the best in the tournament for any bowler with seven wickets or more.The final name on the team sheet is Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad. The all-rounder took wickets in every World Cup game on his way to 10 wickets, with best figures of two for 18 against Papua New Guinea.&nbsp;With the bat, Ahmad made three scores over 24 to provide useful runs in the lower order as Afghanistan finished fourth, their joint-highest finish at an ICC Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022.

After under-19 World Cup glory, ICC now rewards victorious Indian captain Yash Dhull with this

It will be a final-like clash before the final of the Under-19 World Cup 2022 as Yash Dhull-led India take on old foes Australia in the semi-final on February 2. Good news for India is that they will go into the encounter with a bolstered team as Nishant Sindhu returns after recovering from Covid-19.&nbsp;Journey to last fourIndia have been unbeaten in the tournament so far with convincing win over South Africa followed by big wins over Ireland and Uganda. Even as many as five players testing positive for Covid-19 in the group stage did not dull India’s performance. India also knocked out Bangladesh in the quarter-final to avenge their defeat in the previous edition’s final. They were clinical against the arch-rivals with the return of skipper Dhull, vice-captain Shaik Rasheed and others into the side.&nbsp;On the other hand, Australia had a bumpy ride in the group stages as they were beaten by Sri Lanka who are now out of the tournament. However, they were flawless against Pakistan in the quarter-final with a one-sided win to progress into the last four.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is the fourth time in a row India will appear in the last four stage of the tournament. If India manage to beat Australia, they will become the first team to qualify for four consecutive finals.&nbsp;Current form and threatsIn the batting department, India have a good mix of players. Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been in brilliant form of late. Raghuvanshi also scored a big hundred against minnows Uganda along with Raj Bawa. Harnoor Singh already has a large number of runs under his belt whereas Dhull has been a dependable batter in the top order. India have hitters in Bawa and Rajvardhan Hangargekar.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the bowling department, Hangargekar has impressed the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin with his natural in-swingers. New-ball bowler Ravi Kumar was instrumental too in bundling out Bangladesh by taking three wickets in the first powerplay. India will need them to provide early wickets especially with Australian openers Campbell Kellaway and Teague Wyllie in form along with top-order batter Corey Miller.&nbsp;Vicky Ostwal has provided breakthroughs in the middle overs. Ostwal was instrumental in India’s opening game of the tournament with a fifer against South Africa. His wicket-taking ability will be crucial in the semi-final as it will prevent Aussies from preventing Australia to play freely with wickets in hand.&nbsp;Another positive for India going into the semi-final will be that they had beaten Australia by nine wickets in the warm-up game. Harnoor scored a century whereas Dhull remained unbeaten for 50 in the successful run chase of 269. Hangargekar (3) and Ravi (4) were among wickets again whereas for Australia, skipper Cooper Connolly scored 117.&nbsp;&nbsp;Squads:India U-19: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Harnoor Singh, Shaik Rasheed, Yash Dhull (c), Siddarth Yadav, Raj Bawa, Kaushal Tambe, Dinesh Bana (wk), Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Vicky Ostwal, Ravi Kumar, Manav Parakh, Nishant Sindhu, Aneeshwar Gautam, Aaradhya Yadav, Garv Sangwan Australia U-19: Campbell Kellaway, Teague Wyllie, Corey Miller, Cooper Connolly (c), Lachlan Shaw, Aidan Cahill, William Salzmann, Tobias Snell (wk), Tom Whitney, Jack Sinfield, Jack Nisbet, Harkirat Bajwa, Joshua Garner, Isaac Higgins, Nivethan Radhakrishnan

U-19 World Cup semi-final: Full-strength India face tough Aussie challenge in final-like encounter

India Under-19 skipper Yash Dhull entered the elite list of Indian captains to score a century in the World Cup. Dhull scored run-a-ball 110 against Australia in the semi-final of U-19 World Cup 2022 at Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua. Also, he became the 15th Indian batter to score a century in Under-19 World Cup history.&nbsp;&nbsp;After almost a decade, an Indian captain has scored a century in the Under-19 World Cup. Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli was the first one to do it in 2008 edition of the event. Kohli scored a 74-ball 10 against West Indies in a group stage game. Four years later, former Indian cricketer Unmukt Chand achieved the feat with a 111-run knock against Australia in the final while chasing.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dhull came in to bat at no.4 when India were struggling after openers’ departure. From 37/3, Dhull and vice-captain Shaik Rasheed got the innings back on the track. The Delhi-born batter got his half-century from 64 deliveries in the 31st over. He got to the milestone with a boundary.&nbsp;&nbsp;The two set a platform for a big score and then accelerated. Dhull got to his maiden World Cup century with a couple of runs in the 45th over of the innings. He reached his next 50 from 42 deliveries. In the same over, he hit Tom Whitney for 16 runs in five deliveries. He was looking to play more freely after reaching the three figures but got run out at the non-striker’s end as Rasheed’s drive down the ground brushed Jack Nisbet’s fingers on the follow through and hit the stumps.&nbsp;Dhull’s record 108-run knock included 10 fours and one six. He shared a 204-run partnership for the third wicket with Rasheed. The vice-captain also got out in the same over to Nisbet. He missed out on a century and departed for a 108-ball 94 laced with eight fours and one six.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the two quick wickets in the slog overs, India finished with a flourish to get to 290/5. Rajvardhan Hangrekar and Nishant Sindhu contributed with 10-ball 12 and 10-ball 13 respectively but it was Dinesh Bana who got the crowd on their feat with a four-ball 20 including two fours and as many sixes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Australia have a daunting task ahead of them as they have never chased down anything over 260 in Under-19 World Cup history.&nbsp;

Captain Yash Dhull joins Virat Kohli, Unmukt Chand with century in Under-19 World Cup semi-final

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