Indian batter Musheer Khan's exceptional performance in the ongoing ICC U-19 World Cup continued with his second century leading India to a commanding victory over New Zealand by 214 runs in a Super Six encounter in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
Musheer's impressive knock of 131, supported by opener Adarsh Singh's 52, powered India to a formidable total of 295/8. In response, left-arm spinner Saumy Kumar Pandey (4/19) and pacer Raj Limbani (2/17) dismantled New Zealand's top order, bowling them out for a mere 81 in 28.1 overs.
Limbani made early breakthroughs, striking on the first and fifth balls of New Zealand's innings, setting the tone for India's dominance. Vice-captain Pandey's stellar performance with figures of 4/19 further dented New Zealand's chase.
Facing a daunting target, New Zealand struggled from the outset, collapsing to 27/4 in the Powerplay and failing to mount a significant comeback. India's young talents showcased their prowess, leaving them as strong contenders to win the tournament.
For New Zealand, this defeat marked their third heaviest in terms of runs and their third-lowest total in U-19 World Cup history.
Earlier, Musheer's superb century, his second of the ICC U-19 World Cup, and Adarsh Singh's contribution set the stage for India's imposing total. Musheer's innings of 131 included 13 fours and three sixes, making him the first batter in the competition to surpass the 300-run mark.
Despite losing wickets towards the end, India finished at 295/8, providing a challenging target for New Zealand.
In summary, Musheer Khan's exceptional batting and the clinical performance of India's bowlers secured a commanding victory, reinforcing their position as strong contenders in the ICC U-19 World Cup.
(Brief scores: India U-19 295/8 in 50 overs (Adarsh Singh 52, Musheer Khan 131, Uday Saharan 35; Mason Clarke 4/64) beat New Zealand U-19 81 in 28.1 overs (Oscar Jackson 19; Raj Limbani 2/17, Saumy Pandey 4/19) by 214 runs)