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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Australia have a daunting task ahead of them as they have never chased down anything over 260 in Under-19 World Cup history.
