India U19 marches into Super League stage

Wickets kept falling after that, but India chipped away with a boundary here and a single there to take the game far away from New Zealand’s reach. On a personal front, Jaffer, whose batting was a visual treat, and Lomror, who continued his aggressive style of play, missed out on fifties, having made 46 and 45 respectively.

Avesh then held up his end of the bargain with an exhibition of seam and swing bowling, and the top four New Zealand batsmen buckled under pressure. Pant dove full stretch to his right to catch the edge off Glenn Phillips’ bat in the third over off a delivery that moved away. Josh Clarkson top-edged a rare short ball to give Pant his second catch, Rachin Ravindra’s expansive drive carried to Washington at second slip, and Josh Finnie, the captain, edged a short delivery to give Washington another regulation catch.

With an analysis of 7-2-13-4, Avesh, playing in his second ICC Under-19 World Cup and already with an experience of five Ranji Trophy matches for Madhya Pradesh, had broken New Zealand’s back. Lomror then made hay while the sun shone with five easy wickets to end the game.

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