MATCH REPORT
Follow UsRaj Bawa and Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit spectacular hundreds as India thrashed Uganda by 326 runs in their final group game of the Under 19 World Cup. India set up a quarterfinal clash with defending champions Bangladesh with Saturday's win at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad.
After being put in to bat by Uganda, India lost the wickets of opener Harnoor Singh (15) and captain Nishant Sandhu (15) by 16th over when Bawa joined opener Raghuvanshi in the middle. The pair began steadily and accelerated as the innings progressed. Raghuvanshi, who reached his fifty in 49 balls earlier, brought up his maiden century in 93 balls, while Bawa reached his fifty in 45 balls.
The left-hander clobbered five sixes as India crossed the 250 mark in the 35th over. Bawa reached his maiden Youth ODI hundred in just 69 balls as Raghuvanshi brought up the 200-run partnership between the pair. It was the first time that India had two centurions in the same innings and their first-ever 200-plus partnership in ICC Under 19 World Cup.
The partnership of 206 was finally broken when Raghuvanshi (144 (120b); 22x4, 4x6) top-edged Yunusu Sowobi to the keeper in the 38th over. Uganda's problems were far from over as Bawa brought up his 150 with a six off Juma Miyaji's bowling despite Kaushal Tambe's (15) dismissal.
Off-spinner Joseph Baguma then pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss keeper-batter Dinesh Bana as India went past the score of 400 for the second time in Under 19 World Cup history. Bawa (162 not out (108b); 14x4, 8x6) then recorded the highest individual score by an Indian in the tournament's history when he went past Shikhar Dhawan's score of 156 not out against Scotland in 2004.
Uganda captain Pascal Murungi bowled an excellent final over and gave away just six runs to prevent India from going past their highest total of 425 against Scotland in 2004. Murungi was also the best among Ugandan bowlers with 3-72 in his 10 overs.
Sindhu leads the way
Chasing a mammoth total, Uganda opener Isaac Ategeka was struck on the wrist by a sharp seaming delivery by Rajvardhan Hangargekar's first ball and stayed on for four more balls before retiring hurt. Hangargekar then removed Cyrus Kakuru for a first-ball duck.
The pacer struck again in the third over when Brian Asaba (5) lofted straight to mid-off. Vasu Vats then got the wicket of Ronald Lutaaya (5) soon enough when skipper Sindhu (4-19) ran through the middle order. The spinner got the wickets of Ronaldo Opio (11), Juma Miyaji (0) and Joseph Baguma (0) in quick succession when Vicky Ostwal then removed Chirstopher Kidega to reduce Uganda to 67/7.
Sindhu then trapped Murungi who was the top scorer with 34 as India wrapped up the match when last man Yunusu Sowobi was run-out by Hangargekar after his bat was stuck before the crease. With Ategeka taken to the hospital for scans, Uganda's innings last 19.4 overs.
