Mumbai, June 23: India Under-19s cruised to an eight-wicket win over Malaysia Under-19s at Kinrara Academy Oval in Kuala Lumpur in the Asian Cricket Council Under-19s Asia Cup Group A match today.
Defending a paltry 126 there was little that the Malaysia U-19s could do as Manan Vohra and Unmukt Chand put together a 50-run opening stand before the former was trapped lbw for 26 by Anwar Rahman. The bowler also claimed Chand for 37 a little while later. But with only 41 runs required off 31.4 overs, India coasted home with 19 overs spare. Baba Aparajith and Vijay Zol remained unbeaten on 38 and 20 respectively as the Indian colts began the series on a winning note.
Earlier, the Chand-led team wrapped up the Malaysian innings for 126 in 39.3 overs after opting to field first. Paceman Sandeep Sharam set the ball rolling with the wicket of P Syafiq Ali off the first ball. Although Fikri Rosdi and K Goonasagaran attempted to stitch together a partnership, Rush Kalaria removed the latter to end their effort after the duo had put up 24 runs on the board. He then followed it up with the wicket of the opener in his next over.
Malaysia spiralled downwards as Vikas Mishra came to the party. After giving away only one run in his first over, the left-arm spinner struck to dismiss Zubair Norazmi and then trap Muhamad Syahadat lbw a few overs later. Skipper and off-spinner Chand chipped in with the wickets of middle-order bats SKG Krishnan and D Duraisingam to leave the opposition reeling at 88 for the loss of seven wickets in 26.4 overs.
P Nadaesan and Nazril Rahman then tried to breathe life into the innings with a 32-run partnership for the eighth wicket until Nazril was sent back by Mohsin Sayyed. Mishra then wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Anwar Rahman and Wafiq Irfan while Nadaesan remained stranded on 18.
Brief scores: Malaysia U-19s 126 all out in 39.3 overs (D Duraisingam 21, Nazril Rahman 19, V Mishra 4/18, R Kalaria 2/14, U Chand 2/18) lost to India U-19s 130/2 in 31 overs (B Aparajith 38*, U Chand 37) by 8 wickets
