With less than a month to go to U-19 World Cup, Indian team has thrown an early marker after outclassing South Africa to claim a series clinching win.??
The promising 18 year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal starred with both bat and ball as he grabbed four wickets before making an unbeaten 89 to star in India Under-19 team¡¯s eight wicket win against the hosts.?
Jaiswal, who turned 18 on Saturday and is in India¡¯s U-19 World Cup squad, gave himself a birthday gift by polishing off the South African tail with a four-wicket burst with his spin bowling to bundle out the home side for just 119 from 29.5 overs.??
Akash Singh, AV Ankolekar and Ravi Bishnoi also chipped in with two wickets each.
For South Africa, who suffered a batting collapse, one-down Jonathan Bird top-scored with a 25 while opener Andrew Louw made 24. Their six batsmen were dismissed for single-digit scores.
Chasing the small target of 120, Jaiswal, who was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 2.4 crore in the recent IPL auction, struck 14 boundaries and three sixes in his 56-ball unbeaten knock.??
India's U-19 side will be defending the World Cup title next month, and this is a good morale booster before the tournament. The Priyam Garg led team will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy, but they will have to show great character to do that.?
A lot will also hinge on Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been making waves at a very young age.?The highlight of the prodigious opener's scintillating performance off late?was a 203-run knock off 154 balls, scored for Mumbai in Vijay Hazare Trophy,?contained as many as 12 sixes and 17 fours.?He thus became the youngest batsman?to hit a double hundred in List A cricket.
The current U-19 squad will be looking to replicate the success of their predecessors and win India their fifth world title. The World Cup begins on January 17, and it promises to be an exciting battle between bat and ball.?