ICC Under-19 World Cup | India confirm quarter-final berth with 10-wicket win over Papua New Guinea

Brief scores: PNG 64/10 in 21.5 overs (Ovia Sam 15; Anukul Roy 5-14) lost to India 67/0 in 8 overs (Prithvi Shaw 57*) by 10 wickets.

Put in to bat first, PNG were rolled over for just 64 in 21.5 overs as Anukul Roy blended exceptional control with clever variations of pace and lengths to leave the opposition batsmen clueless against his left-arm spin and was able to pick up a five-wicket haul. However, before Roy came to the fore, pacer Shivam Mavi struck early to pick up two wickets. He was ably supported by Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who came up a brilliant piece of fielding to run out Simon Atai before the procession started. Arshdeep Singh, who was included in place of injured Ishan Porel, dismissed Vagi Karaho to pick up his first wicket in the tournament. 

To chase 65, Indian openers didn’t have to break a sweat and Prithvi Shaw decided to have some fun as he hit the Papua New Guinea bowlers with absolute ease and unleashed his strokeplay to collect effortless boundaries. The Mumbai teenager faced 39 of the 48 balls bowled in the Indian innings and secured his second consecutive half-century - his second in as many matches.

“It was a batting wicket but there was help for the spinners. I just thought of bowling line to line. Rahul Dravid sir and the support staff have given me good confidence and I got a good rhythm,” Roy said after the game, reported Wisden India.

“There was no change in my bowling in the two games. We don’t see teams in different ways, we play the same irrespective of our opponents. I had good confidence and tried a few things which will help in the upcoming matches.”

India will play Zimbabwe in their last league match, also in Tauranga, on Friday.