U-19 World Cup: Avesh Khan stars as India thump New Zealand to enter quarters

U-19 World Cup: Avesh Khan stars as India thump New Zealand to enter quarters

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In a fiery opening spell, Avesh Khan demolished the New Zealand top order with four wickets as India defeated the Kiwis by 120 runs to enter the quarter-final of the U-19 World Cup today. Earlier, put in to bat, the hosts had made 258 with Sarfraz Khan and Rishabh Pant top-scoring for them.

Brief Scores: India U-19 258/8 in 50 overs (Sarfraz Khan 74(80), Rishabh Pant 57(83), Z Gibson 3/50) beat New Zealand U-19 138 all-out in 31.3 overs (CK Leopard 40 (40), Avesh Khan 4/32, MK Lomror 5/47) by 120 runs

After winning the toss, New Zealand captain JL Finnie put the hosts in to bat. Skipper Ishan Kishan had another disastrous day at the crease as he was caught at 4, before the hosts soon lost Ricky Bhuia for 1 to totter at 2/19. Opener Rishabh Pant and Sarfraz Khan, however, took control of the innings with some solid stroke play. Pant was outstanding as he collected seven fours and two sixes in his 57-run innings. After the 89-run partnership between the two came to an end, with Pant caught off Phillips, Sarfraz added 48 more runs to the score with Armaan Jaffer. Some lusty stroke-play from MK Lomror and Jaffer towards the end saw the hosts reach a creditable total of 258.

Chasing 259 in a must-win match after the loss to Nepal earlier, New Zealand had no idea what struck them. Avesh Khan removed Philips in the first ball of the third over with a fullish delivery that nicked the bat before nestling into the gloves of keeper Pant. The Kiwis were put under considerable pressure from here on as they stuttered and struggled to four runs by the end of the 6th over. The pressure found its way as Avesh removed Clarkson and opener Ravindra off consecutive deliveries in the 7th over. Avesh came back to break any Kiwi resistance left with the wicket of skipper Finnie in the 11th over.

The top order of four batsmen had together made a total of five runs before being packed off, all by Avesh.

Despite a token resistance by Allen and Leopard, India managed to finish the match off by the 32nd over. MK Lomror contributed with the ball as well, as he polished off the lower order to end up with five wickets.

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