India Qualify for Under-19 World Cup Semi-finals with a tactically crafty and psychologically tough performance that removed arch-rivals Pakistan, revealing the quality and flexibility of the Indian Under-19 system. Two permutations were important in a high-stakes group encounter where even a single event victory depended on the group, and India not only made the qualification but took the group leadership, to be played in a semi-final in Harare against Afghanistan and not against Australia in a possibly tricky encounter on a battered surface in Bulawayo.
The fact that India are put in persistent pressure in crucial stages of the game, especially early in the two innings means that they are qualifying to participate in the semi-finals of Under-19 World Cup. Pakistan was seen to be at the receiving end a number of times in the sense that it brought India to 47/3 and 200/7 respectively. But what finally divided the two groups was the depth of batting of India, ability to bat in pressure and also knowledge of the match conditions.
To begin with, Indian performance with the bat was decisive. Vedant Trivedi took the pressure of the situation after losing the initial wickets and scored a matured 68 out of 98 balls. Trivedi realized the value of taking the crease on a floor that was starting to give unpredictable turn and his performance became the main central round around which India started to play. Vihaan Malhotra was able to offer him support in his critical period and hence Pakistan was not able to win the battle with absence of control.
But the support of the lower middle order, and the tail, of India, was really instrumental in altering the situation of the game. No. 7 RS Ambrish was, literally speaking a support of 29 and allowed those above him to push the ball about and turn the bat to his right. Kanishk Chouhan (No. 8) with an upwardly important 35 and Khilan Patel (21 off 15), provided a late impetus. This made a total contribution of India go far afield of the comfort zone of Pakistan towards 250 when it was earlier expected that they would be confined to a much better manageable figure.
Their problems were aggravated by the pitfalls that Pakistan was facing in the field. Late in the innings they were punished, by having in extra fielder in the 30-yard circle, and they were unable to produce the last four overs. Those four overs were spurted 39 runs and that is a big swing in a game where margins were going to play a decisive role all the time.
Pakistan started their pursuit positively, which indicated that they had the needed knowledge. Their order batting was deliberate and when Usman Khan and captain Farhan Yousaf went in a 63-run partnership the tide seemed to be squarely in their favour. At a point, Pakistan required 174 runs with nine wickets in reserve in 20 overs which should have given them a chance to be more aggressive.
This however is where the difference between the two sides was seen. Pakistan never engaged wholeheartedly in the hunt, but it chose to accept what was being offered to them instead of trying to make them to take it. In the efforts to give another big hit the dismissal of Yousaf, which was caught at long-on, turned out to be the turning point. Pakistan failed miserably to meet the expectations of the game as they lost 8 wickets against 43 runs.
The bowling approach of India at this stage was excellent. After being made conscious of the growing support given to spin, they put a heavy dependence on a range of slow bowling alternatives including part-time spinners. Chouhan took a low cost 10-1-30-1 as captain Ayush Mhatre took three wickets in the front. Malhotra also chipped in with another and Khilan Patel also helped to end the game on a great note, by taking three wickets himself and Pakistan was defeated.
Indecisiveness and lack of discipline could mark this match as a lost opportunity by Pakistan. Their aim against the new ball was calculated where it had to make the decisive move and once the game turned against them; they could not adjust accordingly. Conversely, India was clear-thinking during the whole process by making sure that they are qualified to work first and then exploiting the opportunity ruthlessly when it presented itself.
Lastly, there are several reasons to determine that India will be semi-finals of the Under-19 World Cup not only due to personal accomplishments but due to nation awareness and strategy. They read better under pressure, optimised their resources and were calm when they were under pressure. This performance will have a position to strengthen the faith that this team possesses both ability and character to compete in the title. To Pakistan, at the same time, killing is a cold shower to the fact that in this stage of the game dominance in territories is not sufficient execution and decisiveness are non-bargaining points.
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