Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – In a high-stakes encounter at the Queens Sports Club, India U19 maintained their clinical dominance to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan by 58 runs. The Worldbaazi victory not only preserved India’s unbeaten streak in the tournament but also officially booked their ticket to the semi-finals, while knocking Pakistan out of the competition.

The Match Summary

• India U19: 252 all out (49.5 overs)

• Pakistan U19: 194 all out (46.2 overs)

• Result: India won by 58 runs

• Player of the Match: Kanishk Chouhan

First Innings: India’s Recovery and Late Flourish

After being put into bat, India faced a daunting start. Pakistan’s Mohammad Sayyam and Abdul Subhan tore through the top order, reducing India to a precarious 47/3 in the space of just four deliveries. Skipper Ayush Mhatre was among those dismissed for a duck.

However, the middle order showed immense character. Vedant Trivedi played the anchor role, scoring a gritty 68 off 98 balls. He stitched together a crucial 62-run stand with Vihaan Malhotra to stabilize the ship.

Just when it seemed India might settle for a sub-200 total, the lower order exploded. Kanishk Chouhan (35 off 29) and Khilan Patel (21 off 15) added a rapid 50-run partnership for the eighth wicket, propelling India to a competitive 252.

The Qualification Math

The stakes were higher than just a win/loss. To leapfrog India and qualify for the semi-finals on Net Run Rate, Pakistan needed to chase down the 253-run target in just 33.3 overs.

Second Innings: Spinners Strangle the Chase

Pakistan started with intent but quickly lost Sameer Minhas to Henil Patel. Despite a solid 66 from Usman Khan and a steady 38 from Farhan Yousaf, the lack of urgency was apparent. As the 33.3-over mark passed, Pakistan was mathematically eliminated from the tournament, and the goal shifted to simply winning the match.

However, once the ball started to grip, the Indian spin quartet became unplayable. Captain Ayush Mhatre led from the front with figures of 3/21, breaking the back of the middle order. He was supported brilliantly by Khilan Patel, who also took three wickets, including the final blow—bowling Huzaifa Ahsan to end the match.

Pakistan collapsed from 151/2 to 194 all out, losing their last 8 wickets for just 43 runs.

Key Takeaways

1. Lower-Order Heroics: India’s ability to find runs from positions 7 through 9 proved to be the difference-maker.

2. Spin Dominance: The Indian spinners combined for 8 wickets, showing why they are the most feared bowling unit in this World Cup.

3. Pressure Management: Despite the early collapse, the "Colts" never panicked, a hallmark of this Ayush Mhatre-led side.

What’s Next?

The semi-final line-up is now set. India finishes as Group 2 toppers and will travel to Harare to face Afghanistan on Wednesday, February 4. In the other semi-final, England will take on Australia in Bulawayo.