Aparajith leads India to yet another win

An all-round show by Baba Aparajith helped India U-19 register a comfortable six-wicket win against Australia in the four-nation Quadrangular tournament.

This is the hosts' fourth win, and second against Australia, having thrashed them by 10 wickets in the tournament opener.

Opting to bat, Australia were all-out for 173 in 48.5 overs courtesy incisive first spell by seamer Sandeep Sharma (4/27) and restrictive bowling in the middle overs by Aparajith (3/34).

The Indians achieved the target in only 32.2 overs with Aparajith scoring an unbeaten 48 with help of eight bioundaries. His partnership of 82 with Akshdeep Nath (38) for the fourth wicket lay the foundation for a comfortable win.

In the other game - Justin Greaves top-scored with 90 and Kavem Hodge made 80 not out, but West Indies Under-19s were beaten by Sri Lanka Under-19s by two wickets.

Greaves struck seven fours and three sixes from 68 balls and Hodge stroked five fours and one six from 92 balls, as the Windies reached 258 for eight from their allocation of 50 overs in the eighth match of the series that also involves hosts India and ICC Under-19 World Cup 2012 hosts Australia.

West Indies then made a fist of it with Kyle Mayers capturing three wickets for 44 runs from 8.3 overs and John Campbell taking two for 31 from 10 overs, as the Sri Lankans worked their way to their target with nine balls remaining at the Port Trust Diamond Jubilee Stadium.

The Caribbean side were undermined by an all-round Sri Lankan batting effort, as Sandun Weerakkody hit the top score of 47, Lahiru Madushanka supported with 42, Shehan Fernando scored 40, Duleeka Thissakuttige got 31, Niroshan Dickwella added 28, Tharindu Kaushal posted 22, and the captain Angelo Jayasinghe made 20

This was the fourth straight defeat for the West Indies Under-19s in the tournament which features each side playing the other three teams twice prior to the Grand Final and Consolation Final. It was also the second time they have lost to Sri Lanka Under-19s in the Series, following the same result in their opening match last Tuesday.