By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : India were off the blocks in a flash in their campaign opener in the U-19 World Cup as they thrashed Papua New Guinea by a massive 195 runs at Kinrara Oval here Sunday.
A spirited all-round display saw India put up 280 on board losing five wickets and then the bowlers took just 28 overs to knock out Papua New Guinea for a paltry 85 to register their first win.
Tanmay Srivasta top scored with a breezy unbeaten 83 in 76 balls after Turuwar Kohli (40) and Shreevats Goswami (58) gave India a rousing start. Skipper Virak Kohli led with example as he chipped in a quick-fire 40 and then took two wickets.
Pradeep Sangwan and Ajitesh Argal rattled the top order with two wickets each before Iqbal Abdulla wrapped up the tail with three for two.
Put into bat, Indian openers gave a fine start to the innings, putting 100 runs in 21 overs before Turuwar’s fall. Turuwar hit six boundaries in his 53-ball knock while Goswami batted with patience and took 96 balls for his 58 that included six boundaries.
Srivastava then took the attack to the opposition and struck 83 with seven boundaries and three sixes. He shared a 53 run stand with skipper Kohli, who hit five boundaries to accelerate the scoring. M. Pandey made 24 in the lower order.John Reva was the most successful bowler for Papua New Guinea (1-4)
Papua New Guinea’s wickets kept tumbling at regular interval as Indian pacers Sangwan and Argal bowled with fire.
Medium pacer Argal was impressive with his spell as he conceded just five runs in six overs and claimed two wickets.
Sangwan trapped opener Heni Siaka for a duck with the fifth ball of the innings and wickets then fell in heaps. Alfred Amini was the best scorer for Papua with 26.