India humiliate England to surge into Final
India showed just why they are red-hot favourites for this ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup as they humiliated England by the massive margin of 234 runs in their Super League semi-final on Wednesday
Brian Murgatroyd
15-Feb-2006
India 292-4 (50 overs, C.Pujara 129 not out, R.Sharma 59); England 58 (20.1 overs). India won by 234 runs.
ndia showed just why they are red-hot favourites for this ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup as they humiliated England by the massive margin of 234 runs in their Super League semi-final on Wednesday.
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Then they routed some disappointing England batting, dismissing their opponents for just 58 in 20.1 overs.
The win means India, still unbeaten in the tournament, have progressed through to the Super League final on Sunday, where they will face the winners of Friday's second semi-final between Australia and Pakistan.
That final will be India's chance to win the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup for a second time after previous success - also in Sri Lanka - in 2000.
It was a day of unwanted records for England. They made their lowest ever score in ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup history, eclipsing the 98 they made against the West Indies in 2000 and also the lowest total in this year's tournament, beating Uganda's 74 against Pakistan.
"That was unbelievable," said Indian coach Venkatesh Prasad afterwards.
"We never thought it would be so one-sided but in batting, partnerships, our bowlers' line and length, not conceding extras, catching - the boys were fantastic.
"We started the tournament with a few weak areas but we have slowly improved and today was an exceptional effort.
"There were no weak spots and we are there for the final."
The contrast between Prasad and a disappointed England captain Moeen Ali could not have been more striking.
"We were not focused enough and against a good team like India we were made to pay," said Ali.
"After we beat Bangladesh we all thought we had a chance of winning the competition especially as we beat India in the warm-up matches.
"But today maybe we almost expected to do well rather than trying to do well."
Things started to go wrong for England right from the start of the day as they lost the toss and were condemned to field as Pujara and Gaurav Dhiman (48) launched an impressive opening assault.
That duo added 72 in 13 overs before Dhiman miscued England spinner Graeme White to wide mid-on but that only let in Rohit Sharma (59) and he and Pujara made England's bowlers toil even more.
The duo added 112 for the second wicket with Sharma hitting four fours and one six in a 72-ball stay at the crease.
Pujara was given a let-off on one when he was missed at slip by Varun Chopra off the bowling of Huw Waters and he made England pay.
In total he batted for 175 minutes, faced 146 balls and hit 10 fours and a six. And his success in reaching three figures made up for the disappointment of being dismissed for 97 in the Super League quarter-final against the West Indies on Saturday.
"It was an absolutely wonderful innings," said Prasad of Pujara's performance against England.
"He showed commitment, attitude and approach and that was not easy in those hot, humid conditions.
"All credit should go to him but he got great support from the other batsmen too," Prasad added.
Very few of the England bowlers escaped with their figures intact but left-arm spinner Graeme White, one of the side's stars of the tournament, could be proud of his effort.
He took 1-33 in ten very tidy overs but apart from that spell and five overs at the start from Mark Nelson (0-14) there was little else to get excited about in the England bowling figures.
White's fellow left-armer Nick James took 2-60 but the only other wicket taken was a run-out which removed Sharma.
England bowled their overs commendably quickly - it took them just 175 minutes instead of the 210 minutes set aside. But the downside of that was that they had to bat for 25 minutes ahead of the scheduled interval and in that time they slumped to 12-3.
Vijaykumar Yomahesh (2-14) and Abu Nechim Ahmed (4-14) tore in and England, needing almost a run-a-ball from the start of the innings, were quickly in disarray.
"There was a lack of pride," was Ali's honest assessment of his side's batting performance.
"Instead of trying to work the ball around we tried to blast it and that did not work
"We were batting under lights but it was a good pitch and there are no excuses.
"They (India) are very mature batters, they showed us how to bat and we have got to learn from them.
"They showed it is not just about hitting fours, although they did that too, as they milked the bowling around brilliantly."
Only one England player, last man out White (17), reached double figures as Dhiman (1-11), Piyush Chawla (1-17) and Mohnish Parmar (2-0) ensured the end was mercifully swift.
The only minor consolation for England was that they avoided the lowest ever total by an ICC Full Member in the tournament's history. That dubious honour still belongs to New Zealand, who made just 53 against Australia in Moratuwa in 2000.
But the day - and night - belonged to India and they now march on to the final with their confidence sky-high.
"It does not matter who we play," said Prasad. "We are not bothered by the toss or the opposition. We will just play our game the way we know."