India cruise to U19 World Cup title

India have cruised to a comfortable eight-wicket win over Australia in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup final at Tauranga in New Zealand.

The BCCI was quick to announce a financial reward for the Indian players and coaching staff, with head coach Rahul Dravid set to enjoy a bonus of approx. AUD$100k, while the playing group were to be given AUD$60k each.

Set a sub-par target of 217 after Australia had won the toss on Saturday and opted to bat, India always looked in control, with their ability to build partnerships key in reaching 2-220 in the 38.5 overs.

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An unbeaten 101 from Manjot Kalra underpinned the Indian innings, his 102-ball innings comprising eight fours and three sixes.

Against the most-dominant team at any under-19s tournament in some time, Australia lost 3-27 in a seven-over period at the top of their innings after they went at more than a run a ball in the early stages.

They were eventually dismissed for 216, before India cruised to victory within 39 overs in the New Zealand town of Mount Maunganui to end Australia's hopes of claiming their first title since 2010.

"The big moments, they have found a way to win those key moments," Australian captain Jason Sangha said.

"There was a time at the start, we were batting quite well, then India got a few wickets.

"For us with the ball, the first 10 overs were going to be crucial and India batted really well.

"It wasn't our best start with the ball. The Indian batters batted really well. They hit good parts of the ground and played terrific shots. It's hard to set fields for that batting.

"We just weren't up to the challenge today."

A 71-run opening partnership between Prithvi Shaw and Kalra set the tone before 18-year-old allrounder Will Sutherland clean bowled the Indian skipper for 29 in the 12th over.

Kalra and Shubman Gill added 60 runs for the second wicket, their partnership cut short when Param Uppal bowled the dangerous right-hander for 31 off 30 balls.

Wicketkeeper Harvik Desai and Kalra were untroubled in wrapping up the Indian win, Desai's unbeaten 47 off 63 providing the perfect support for Kalra's fluent century.

Earlier, Australia were bowled out for 216 in 47.2 overs, allrounder Jonathan Merlo anchoring the innings with a 102-ball 76 which included six fours.

A 75-run fourth-wicket partnership between Uppal and Merlo resurrected the Australian innings after they were teetering at 3-59 four balls into the 12th over.

Medium pacer Ishan Porel removed Max Bryant (14) and Jack Edwards (28), then paceman Kamlesh Nagarkoti claimed skipper Jason Sangha for 13.

Uppal and Merlo's fourth-wicket stand put Australia back on track, the pair rebuilding patiently until legspinner Anukul Roy struck in the 29th over, taking a comfortable return catch off a leading edge to dismiss Uppal for 34.

Nathan McSweeney (23 off 29) added another 49 runs for the fifth wicket before chipping another return catch to Shiva Singh early in the 40th over to leave Australia at 5-183.

The Australians could add only 33 runs for their last five wickets, tied down in their final eight overs by sharp fielding and intelligent bowling.

Roy finished with 2-32 off seven overs, equalling Qais Ahmad of Afghanistan and Canadian Faisal Jamkhandi as the leading wicket-takers for the tournament with 14.

Australia: Max Bryant, Jack Edwards, Jason Sangha (c), Jonathan Merlo, Param Uppal, Nathan McSweeney, Will Sutherland, Baxter Holt (wk), Zak Evans, Ryan Hadley, Lloyd Pope

India: Prithvi Shaw (c), Manjot Kalra, Shubman Gill, Harvik Desai (wk), Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Anukul Roy, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Shiva Singh, Ishan Porel