ICC U-19 WC: Gill, spinners sink Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe batsmen seemed clueless against left-arm spinners Anukul Roy (4/20) and Abhishek Sharma (2/22) and folded for 154 in 48.1 overs.

Shubhman Gill spearheading India's chase with a flurry of handsome looking strokes. (File Image)

 

Three-time champion India completed its Group B domination with a comprehensive 10-wicket win over an ill-equipped Zimbabwe in the ICC U-19 World Cup here on Friday.

India, which had already sealed a quarterfinal spot with back-to-back wins against Australia and Papua New Guinea, produced another professional performance to end the league stage unbeaten.

As the action unfolded

Zimbabwe batsmen seemed clueless against left-arm spinners Anukul Roy (4/20) and Abhishek Sharma (2/22) and folded for 154 in 48.1 overs.

Zimbabwe was 110 for three at one stage but lost its last seven wickets for 44 runs.

The Rahul Dravid-coached Indian side chased down the small target with seamless ease as Harvik Desai (56 not out off 73) and Shubman Gill (90 not out off 59) took the team home in just 21.4 overs.

Captain Prithvi Shaw did not open, letting the other batsmen spend more time in the middle before the quarterfinals.

Desai, who was one of the two changes in the team alongside Riyag Parag, made the opportunity count with a solid half-century.

Gill, who has a first-class hundred to his name representing Punjab, was in devastating form smashing 14 fours and a six en route his second successive half-century.

Gill fittingly hit the winning boundary, a straight drive for four.