Aussie young guns blaze to Cup glory
Winning Australian Under-19 captain Hugh Weibgen is confident his brilliant bowling attack will “go a long way” after easily defending a record final score to take down India and snare a fourth World Cup.
Unbeaten all tournament, the Aussie “cartel” of fast bowlers demolished India, rolling them for just 174 in pursuit of Australia’s massive total of 7-253.
It was the biggest score ever in an Under-19 World Cup final and came despite opening batter Harry Konstas going out for a duck.
The triumphant win was the first at an Under-19 World Cup since 2010, a side which included current Aussie starts Mitch Marsh and Josh Hazlewood.
“It’s unbelievable. I am so proud of this group of boys and the coaches,” Weibgen said after the victory.
“A lot of work has gone in over the last few months. Fair bit of confidence that if we got 250 on the board we’d defend it. The fast bowlers, as a unit, work so well together. They know their roles, they know their jobs. I’ll be very surprised if the four of them don’t go a long way.”
Tearaway Queensland fast bowler Callum VIdely, who took 18 wickets for the tournament and 2-35 in the final, called the experience “crazy”.
“It’s crazy and a memory I’ll definitely remember for the rest of my life. And to do it with Mahli, Tom and Charlie, there’s no better feeling.“
Tom Straker, who set a new benchmark with six wickets in the semifinal, sealed the win with his 13th wicket of the tournament after spinner Raf MacMillan and Mahli Beardman both took three wickets to put their team on the path to victory at Willowmoore Park, in South Africa.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have won the final and to be bringing home the World Cup,” Weibgen said,
“We knew this was going to be a tough tournament given the standard of some of the teams.
“And to go through undefeated says a lot about the talent we have in our squad and the excellence of our planning and preparation.
“It was great that everyone across the squad made a contribution to the victory... everyone involved can be really proud of what we have achieved.”