MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Opener Manjot Kalra smacked an unbeaten 101 in even time as India easily disposed of Australia at Mount Maunganui on Sunday to win the Under-19 World Cup for a fourth time.

With Kalra scoring freely, India won by eight wickets as they chased down Australia’s 216 all out with more than 11 overs to spare.

The opener’s century included eight fours and three sixes, and he was well supported by wicketkeeper Harvik Desai, who was 47 not out when he finished the match with a boundary.

The pair put on 89 for the third wicket, while Prithvi Shaw scored 29 at the top of the innings and Shubman Gill added 31.

“I really can’t express what I’m feeling now,” said captain Shaw.

“It was the final, a very crucial hundred from Manjot. Gill was batting really well. And the two pacers, Mavi and Kamlesh, (have) been excellent throughout the tournament.”

Kalra was adjudged the man of the match while compatriot Shubman Gill took home the player of the tournament award.

Kalra, not surprisingly, felt the wicket was ideal for batting.

“I enjoyed it a lot. The conditions were good. Not a difficult wicket, it was flat and good to bat on,” he said.

Australia’s innings, all over in the 48th over, was held together by Jonathan Merlo’s 76 after it fell apart despite a promising start.

Jack Edwards (28) and Max Bryant (14) batted at a run a ball through the first five overs.

But once both were dismissed by Ishan Porel, the steam went out of the Australian innings.

Merlo and Param Uppal (34) put on 75 for the fourth wicket but it took more than 17 overs, and there was little resistance from the following batsmen.

Porel finished with two for 30 while left-arm spinner Shiva Singh was instrumental in slowing the Australian run rate with two for 36.

Accolades pour in

This is the second time that India have defeated Australia in the final. They had earlier defeated the boys from Down Under in the final of the 2012 edition.

The victory triggered off an avalanche of congratulatory messages from various quarters with present and former senior Indian team stars joining President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in hailing the Indian colts.

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and India skipper Virat Kohli led the cricket fraternity in congratulating the Rahul Dravid-coached team.

“With great team work, big dreams work. Congratulations to our World Champions!! We are proud of you. A big congratulations to Rahul and Paras for their guidance,” Tendulkar said in a video message posted on his Twitter handle.

Kohli, who also led the India U19 side to a World Cup win in 2008, said: “What a win for the U19 boys, take it as a stepping stone; Long long way to go! Enjoy the moment!”

Team India head coach Ravi Shastri echoed the captain, saying: “Great performance boys. You were ahead by a country mile all the way. Enjoy the moment.”

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly meanwhile, hoped that some of the U-19 stars will go on to enjoy success with the senior national team as well.

Holding out Kohli as an example, Ganguly said the Indian colts must aspire to emulate the current senior Indian team captain.

Wishing the younngsters, the President said: “Congrats to India’s talented young cricket team for winning the Under-19 World Cup. Calmness and composure of our boys embellishes their skills. Proud of captain Prithvi Shaw and his mates, as well as of coach Rahul Dravid and the hard-working support staff.”

The Prime Minister also congratulated the team saying that their win makes every Indian “extremely” proud.

“Absolutely thrilled by the stupendous achievement of our young cricketers. Congratulations to them on winning the Under-19 World Cup. This triumph makes every Indian extremely proud,” Modi said.

Agencies