Anmolpreet Singh steers India into the U-19 world title clash: While the Lankan pacers literally mowed down Team India at the MCA Stadium, Pune, to go up 1-0 in the three-match T20I series, the Indian colts, earlier in the day, did the honour of defeating their counterparts from the Emerald Isle and move into the title clash round in the ongoing ICC U19 World Cup tournament. They are just one game away from winning the World Cup for the fourth time.
Having played a very crucial role in the quarter final game against Namibia, being involved in a 103-run second wicket partnership with the ‘Player of the Match’, Rishabh Pant, helping India to enter the stage of ‘last four’, the 17-year Anmolpreet Singh played another crucial role in aiding India to enter the title clash round with a knock of 72 runs off 92 deliveries with 6 fours and a six.
He was also involved in two good partnerships, which eventually proved to be the best and the second best partnerships for any wicket in the match.
Put into bat, India were 27/2 in 9.2 overs. At this stage, Sarfaraz Khan joined Anmolpreet (1) in the middle. The duo went into a run rampage adding a very valuable 96 runs in 21 overs.
Khan raced to his 4th half-century in the tournament in 61 deliveries. He reached his 50 by way of a huge six off Hasaranga de Silva.
Sarfaraz fell after scoring 59 runs off 71 deliveries with 6 four and a six, while trying to hit Asitha Fernando out of the ground but could only lob it to Shammu Ashan at mid-on.
Anmolpreet, who was striking well, batting on 37, was joined by the left-hander Washington Sundar (43). They both were engaged in a partnership of 70 runs in 11.5 overs for the fourth wicket.
India ended their innings with 267 runs for the loss of 9 wickets with Anmolpreet registering his first half-century (in 2 games) of this tourney that came in 69 deliveries with 3 fours and a six.
Fernando with 4 wickets, giving away 43 runs, was the chief destroyer.
Indian left-arm spinner, Mayank Dagar (5.4-0-21-3) and the medium pacer, Avesh Khan (9-0-41-2) made short work of the Lankan batting and got them all-out for just 170 runs in 43.2 overs. Khaleel Ahmed, Rahul Batham and Washington Sundar claimed a wicket each.
Except for a fourth-wicket partnership of 49 runs in 13.5 overs between Kamindu Mendis (39) and Shammu Ashan (38) there was no useful contribution from any batsman.
India won the match by 97 runs and would now take on the winner of Bangladesh v West Indies encounter, for the final clash on 14th Feb, 2016.
Anmolpreet Singh was adjudged the Player of the Match.
