India opened their account in the Asian Cricket Council Under-19 Asia Cup with a 235-run win against Malaysia in Colombo. After setting the opposition a 290-run target, India bowled Malaysia out for a paltry 54 runs in 22.3 overs to register a thumping win. Skipper Abhishek Sharma, who had scored a vital half-century, also claimed two wickets for nine runs.
Earlier, opener Prithvi Shaw helped shape the innings with a 79-ball 89-run knock after India elected to bat first. After his 85-run opening stand with Himanshu Rana was ended by Syed Aziz, Islah Zol claimed Shubman Gill to reduce India to 97 for two. The opener then stitched a 74-run partnership for the third wicket with the captain until he was sent back by Muhammed Amir. In his next over, the bowler bowled Priyam Garg for one, but Het Patel joined the skipper in setting the opposition a solid target.
However, with the team on 191, Virdener Singh disrupted Abhishek’s stumps to reduce India to 191 for five. Het then anchored the innings with an unbeaten 58 off 62 balls. While Nagarkoti and Ayush Jamwal returned for zero and one respectively, the wicketkeeper-batsman’s 70-run stand for the seventh wicket helped India to a comfortable position.
Defending the total, the Indian spinners wrecked the opposition lineup. While Heramb Parab accounted for Fadli Haris with just one run on the board, Nagarkoti opening the bowling, finished with four for 12 after claiming three of the top five batsmen. Spinner Yash Thakur and left-arm spinner Abhishek claimed two wickets each while Jamwal picked the last wicket of middle-order bat Arjoon Thillanathan to wrap-up the innings.
