IND U19 vs AUS U19 Final: The most successful team in the history of the Under-19 World Cup, India U19, is all set to compete against three-time U19 World Cup winners Australia U19 in the final of the 2024 U19 World Cup. The match is scheduled to take place on February 11 at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. The match between the two cricketing giants will commence at 1:30 p.m. IST. This article will provide Australia’s Strongest Playing 11 for the final against India
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India U19, under the captaincy of skipper Uday Saharan, has been on a winning streak since the commencement of their group stage games and have emerged victorious in all three games against Ireland, Bangladesh, and the USA, which allowed them to top their respective group stage groups. The Uday Saharan-led team easily defeated New Zealand and their Asian neighbors, Nepal, as they managed to top Group 1 of the Super Six with eight points. Against the Kiwi’s, the Indians were in outstanding form as they emerged victorious by a margin of 214 runs.
The Boys in Blue defeated Nepal by 132 runs in their final Super Six match, as they managed to successfully defend a target of 293 runs. Then the Indians squared off against the hosts of this year’s U19 World Cup, South Africa, and they successfully defeated the Junior Proteas, riding on the outstanding batting efforts of in-form player Sachin Dhas (96 runs in 95 balls) and Captain Uday Saharan (81 runs in 124 balls). India would be looking to defeat Australia in the final and win their sixth successful U19 World Cup title
Like India, Australia has been unbeaten in this edition of the Under-19 World Cup as well. The Kangaroos comfortably defeated Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in the group stage matches. In the Super Six, captain Hugh Weibgen and his team beat rival England by a massive 110 runs. Their second Super Six match against the West Indies was abandoned due to rain. Had the Rain Gods not intervened, the Boys in Yellow likely would have defeated the West Indies, as they were in a strong position to win.
Against Pakistan, Weibgen and his players secured a nail-biting one-wicket victory in the second semi-final. Tom Straker’s bowling (6-24) wreaked havoc as Saad Baig’s team was bowled out for 179 runs in 50 overs. Azan Awais (52 runs in 91 balls) and all-rounder Arafat Minhas (52 runs in 61 balls) were the top scorers for Pakistan. The target of 179 runs looked pretty easy for the Australian batters, but Pakistan’s dangerous bowling attack troubled them greatly. Ali Raza, with his four-wicket haul, almost took Pakistan to the final against India, but Harry Dixon (50 runs in 75 balls), Ollie Peake (49 runs in 75 balls), and a rescuing cameo by Raf Macmillan (19 runs in 29 balls*) helped Australia qualify.
The 2024 Under-19 World Cup Final between defending champions India and three-time winners Australia will be thrilling as the arch rivals battle for the Youth World Cup trophy. The seniors faced off in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where Pat Cummins led Australia to a record sixth title. It remains to be seen whether Weibgen will follow in the seniors’ footsteps or not.
Talking about the playing 11 of the Kangaroos, Harry Dixon, Sam Konstas, and Skipper Hugh Weibgen will form the top order of the Boys in Yellow. Dixon and Konstas will open the inning against India in the final. Harry Dixon (50 runs in 75 balls) scored a really good half century versus Pakistan in the second semi-final, and he would be looking to punish the Indian bowling unit with his good form. Sam Konstas, on the other hand, scored a brilliant century against the Windies, but he wasn’t able to do much with the bat against Pakistan in the semi-final, so he would be looking to contribute with the bat in fine fashion against India and help his team tackle the Indian bowlers.
Captain Hugh Weibgen will bat at number three in the final of the 2024 U19 World Cup. He scored a fine hundred against England, but he failed to contribute with the bat in the games against the West Indies and Pakistan. Hugh would like to score big runs against India in the final and lead his side to their fourth U19 World Cup title.
The middle order will consist of Harjas Singh, wicketkeeper Ryan Hicks, and Oliver Peake. Harjas and Ryan got dismissed early in the semi-final versus Pakistan, so they would be hoping to play important roles with the bat against the Boys in Blue. Oliver Peake played a brilliant knock of 49 runs against Pakistan, and he would like to continue with his good form against India in the final as well.
Raf Macmillan, Tom Campbell, Tom Straker, Mahli Beardman, and Callum Vidler will form the lower order of the Aussies. Straker (12 wickets) and Vidler (12 wickets) are the fifth and sixth highest wicket takers in the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, and they will be the main threat for the Indian U19 batters. Beardman will play the role of the third fast bowler, while Raf Macmillan and Tom Campbell will play the roles of the spinners in the final against India.
U19 World Cup Final: Australia’s Strongest Playing 11
Hugh Weibgen (C), Harry Dixon, Sam Konstas, Harjas Singh, Ryan Hicks (WK), Oliver Peake, Raf Macmillan, Tom Campbell, Mahli Beardman, Tom Straker, and Callum Vidler.
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