U-19 World Cup: Raj Bawa smashes unbeaten 162 as India beat Uganda to top group

Tarouba (Trinidad), Jan 23

Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Raj Bawa smashed centuries as four-time champions India recorded a thumping 326-run win over minnows Uganda to top Group B in the U19 World Cup here. The victory on Saturday was India’s largest in the tournament’s history.

India’s players celebrate a dismissal. Photo: BCCI

The Hrishikesh Kanitkar-coached side thus ended the league stage with three wins in as many games, having earlier thrashed South Africa (by 45 runs) and Ireland (by 174 runs).

Put in to bat at the picturesque Brian Lara stadium, India first rode on hundreds from Bawa (162 not out off 108 balls) and opener Raghuvanshi (144 off 120 balls) to post 405/5, the highest total in this edition.

They then bundled out the opposition for 79 in 19.4 overs to eke out an easy win.

Bangladesh await

India will take on Bangladesh in the quarterfinals on January 29. It will give their Covid-19 infected players, including skipper Yash Dhull, enough time to recover.

Raghuvanshi and Bawa shared 206 runs for the third wicket. Raghuvanshi hit 22 fours and four sixes, while Bawa, who came in at No. 4, hit 14 fours and eight sixes.

It was India’s second-highest score in the history of the U-19 World Cup. Their highest score was 425/3 against Scotland in 2004. Australia hold the world record of 480/6 against Kenya in 2002.

Bawa’s unbeaten 162 is the highest individual score by an Indian in the U19 World Cup as he surpassed Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten 155 against Scotland in 2004.

Skipper Nishant Sindhu (4/19) was the star with the ball for India.

Brief scores: India 405/5 (Bawa 162*, Raghuvanshi 144; Murungi 3/72); Uganda 79 in 19.4 overs (Murungi 34; Sindhu 4/19, Hangargekar 2/8). —