England suffer more agony in World Cup final
ENGLAND Under 19s failed to emulate Owais Shah’s class of 1998 yesterday as they were consigned to a four-wicket World Cup final defeat by India in Antigua.
Light on runs despite the best efforts of Somerset’s James Rew, 18, after captain Tom Prest opted to bat first, they were always going to have to produce something special with the ball to deny India a fifth title at this level.
Northamptonshire’s James Sales claimed two wickets in three balls to leave India on 97 for four in pursuit of a 190-run victory target.
But man-of-the-match Raj Bawa, who earlier claimed best-ever Under 19 World Cup final figures of five for 31, swung the momentum back India’s way alongside fellow left-hander Nishant Sindhu.
Both struck sixes in consecutive deliveries — the second, hauled over midwicket by Bawa bringing up the 50 partnership — but they were separated when Bawa became Lancashire’s Josh Boyden’s second victim.
There were to be no late heroics this time, even allowing for England’s Rehan Ahmed, the leg-spinner who took three death wickets in the semi-final beating of Afghanistan, making a brilliant diving catch to leave India six down.
Prest gambled by turning to Sales with 12 runs required off the final 18 balls and leftarmer Boyden, England’s leading wicket-taker in the competition, with overs left in the bank.
Nishant flicked the first delivery from Sales for four, then took a single to reach his 50 before watching from the non-striker’s end as Dinesh Bana won it with consecutive sixes.
Earlier, England recovered from a position of 61 for six thanks to Rew’s career-best 95.