Henil Patel led a ruthless bowling display with an excellent five-wicket haul, setting up India’s six-wicket victory over USA in their rain-hit ICC Under-19 World Cup opener at Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Thursday. The right-arm seamer finished with figures of 5/16 from seven overs with one maiden, ripping through the USA middle-order after India opted to bowl under overcast conditions. The USA were bundled out for a meagre 107 in 35.2 overs. India’s target was revised to 96 in 37 overs after rain interrupted proceedings with the total reading 21 for one in four overs.
Abhigyan Kundu (42 not out off 41 balls) then saw the team home with 118 balls to spare under the DLS method.
India’s chase was delayed by rain but when play resumed, 14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi (2) fell cheaply as he was bowled by Ritvik Appidi (2/24 in 5 overs) in the third over.
Appidi cramped Suryavanshi for room with a length delivery before the batter came down the wicket only to get an inside edge onto the stumps.