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PremiumIndia vs Japan highlights, U19 Asia Cup: Mohamed Amaan led from the front with an unbeaten century, while KP Karthikeya and opener Ayush Mhatre made fifties to hand India a comfortable 211-run victory over minnows Japan in the Under-19 Asia Cup on Monday. Amaan slammed an unbeaten 122 off just 118 balls, a knock studded with only seven boundaries, after India were invited to bat. Besides Amaan, Karthikeya made 57 off 49 balls with the help of five fours and one six, while Mhatre's fiery 29-ball 54-run knock featured six boundaries and four hits over the fence.
Andre Siddarth (38), Hardik Raj (25 not out), and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (23) also played useful knocks to help India post a mammoth 339 for 6 in their 50 overs. Hugo Kelly (2/42) and Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake (2/84) took two wickets each for Japan. It was an easy outing for the Indians, as they restricted Japan to 128/8, securing their first win in Group A.
However, the Indians will be a little disappointed, as they failed to bowl out Japan. After picking up two wickets earlier in the day, Kelly returned as Japan's top-scorer with a gritty 50 off 111 balls. Charles Hinze remained unbeaten on 35. For India, Karthikeya (2/21), Hardik Raj (2/9), and Chetan Sharma (2/14) shared six wickets between them.
India had lost to arch-rivals Pakistan by 43 runs in their tournament opener. India will play United Arab Emirates in their final group game on Wednesday. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals, scheduled for December 6, with the final for December 8.
As it stands, India have boosted their net run-rate (NRR) to +1.680, which is higher than Group A toppers Pakistan (+1.120). UAE, who lost to Pakistan on the day, sit second with two points from two games and a NRR of +2.040. While India are expected to beat UAE in their final game, Pakistan will also have it easy against Japan.
A win for Pakistan against Japan will cement their spot in the top. In that case, India need to win against UAE for a place in the knockouts.
Two more wickets to Chetan Sharma in the final over. Japan managed 128/8 in 50 overs. India win the game by 211 runs.
India are closely inching towards their first win in the U-19 Asia Cup but not before Japan made their opposition sweat for the victory. The minnows need more than 220 runs in three overs which is next to impossible. JPN 120/6 (47)
Another Japanese batter bites the dust as Timothy Moore is trapped in front by KP Karthikeya. JPN 95/5 (38)
Big big breakthrough for India as Hardik Raj ends Hugo Kelly's 111-ball stay at the crease. The Japanese opener was stumped by Harvansh Singh for 50. JPN 88/4 (32.4)
Japan don't often get to play heavyweight teams like India. And when they have the chance, Japan want to make most use of it. Certainly, the Japanese batters would want to bat as much as possible in the middle. Meanwhile, India got another wicket in the form of Kazuma Kato-Stafford who was run out for 8. JPN 79/3 (29)
Wickets started to come for India KP Karthikeya cleans up Koji Hardgrave Abe for a duck. JPN 55/2 (19)
Finally, India get the breakthrough. Nihar Parmar is clean bowled by Hardik Raj. JPN 53/1 (15)
The margin of India's win will determine the run rate in the Group A. The top two sides from the group make it to the knockouts. India need to win big to boost their NRR. JPN 47/0 (12)
Indian bowling has looked toothless in the U-19 Asia Cup so far. After drawing blank against Pakistan, the Indian bowling was expected to wreck havoc against Japan. Defending 340 runs, the Indian bowlers have failed to pick up a single wicket in the first 10 overs against Japan. JPN 39/0 (11)
In another Group A game, Pakistan rode on centuries from Shahzaib Khan and Mohammad Riazullah to post 314/3 in 50 overs. It was Shahzaib's second consecutive hundred after his 159 against India.
We are back in action. Japan openers Hugo Kelly and Nihar Parmar have started the chase well with 31 runs in the first five overs.
Powered by Mohamed Amaan's unbeaten 122, India posted a mammoth 339/6 in 50 overs.
100 for Mohamed Amaan with a single off Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake. What a knock by the Indian captain. However, India lost two wickets in the over - Harvansh Singh and Nikhil Kumar. IND 287/4 (45)
OUTTTTT!!!!!! Hugo Kelly gets the much-needed breakthrough for Japan. KP Karthikeya is caught by Timothy Moore for 57. IND 261/4 (40)
Fifty for KP Karthikeya too as the partnership with Mohamed Amaan crosses 100-run mark. Amaan is also inching towards his hundred. IND 255/3 (37.4)
Fifty for Mohamed Amaan as India cross 200-run mark. IND 211/3 (33)
Following the dismissal of Andre Siddharth, captain Mohammed Amaan is steering the Indian team along with KP Karthikeya. IND 174/3 (28)
Another Indian bites the dust after a strong start. Andre Siddharth gives a straight catch to Hugo Kelly off the latter's own bowling as India are 141/3 in 23 overs.
100 comes up for India in the 15th over. Mohamed Amaan and Andre Siddarth are currently in the middle for India. IND 107/2 (16)
Fifty for Ayush Mhatre in no time. The Indian opener races to his half-century in just 27 balls. However, his joy was shortlived as Aarav Tiwari strikes for Japan. Mhatre departs for 54. IND 82/2 (11)
OUTTTTT!!! Kazuma Kato-Stafford draws first blood for Japan as Vaibhav Suryavanshi holes out Timothy Moore. Suryavanshi goes for run-a-ball 23. IND 66/1 (8)
Ayush Mhatre is going bonkers against an inexperienced Japan bolwing attack. The Indian opener raced to 41 off just 21 balls in no time. On the other hand, Vaibhav Suryavanshi is taking his time in the middle. IND 65/0 (7)
Beautiful start from the Indian openers as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre are dealing in boundaries. IND 22/0 (3)
Here we go. Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi walk out to bat for India. Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake to bowl the opening over. Just a single boundary to start the over. IND 4/0 ()
Japan captain Koji Hardgrave Abe wins the toss and opted to field first.
If checked closely, Japan also have a few Indian names in their squad. They are Aditya Phadke, Nihar Parmar and Aarav Tiwari.
India have played Japan only once before in an U-19 World Cup game in 2020. In that game, Japan were skittled out for just 41 runs. India romped home with 10 wickets in hand.
UAE - 2 points and NRR of +5.460
Pakistan - 2 points and NRR of +0.860
India - 0 point and NRR of -0.860
Japan - 0 point NRR of -5.460
A lot was expected from India opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is making the headlines for his IPL deal with Rajasthan Royals. But the southpaw failed to deliver. The defeat against Pakistan also serves as a wake up call for the Indian players. None of the batters looked in control against Pakistan. On bowling front, Indian spinners Mohamed Ennan and Hardik Raj were inconsistent. Ayush Mhatre was the only one who impressed with the ball. Not only he took 2/30 in his 7 overs but also check the runflow.
Japan: Aditya Phadke, Nihar Parmar, Koji Hardgrave Abe(c), Kazuma Kato-Stafford, Charles Hinze, Hugo Kelly, Timothy Moore, Kiefer Yamamoto-Lake, Daniel Panckhurst(w), Aarav Tiwari, Kai Wall, Yuto Yageta, Max Yonekawa Lynn, Skyler Nakayama Cook
India: Ayush Mhatre, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Andre Siddarth C, Mohamed Amaan(c), Nikhil Kumar, Kiran Chormale, Harvansh Singh(w), Hardik Raj, Samarth Nagaraj, Mohamed Enaan, Yudhajit Guha, Chetan Sharma, Pranav Pant, KP Karthikeya, Anurag Kawade
For India, Nikhil Kumar and Mohamed Enaan were the only positives from the previous game against Pakistan in batting. In bowling, Samarth Nagaraj took three wickets for India.
India didn't get the start they wanted. Coming into the tournament as favourites, the Indian U-19 team slumped to a 43-run defeat at the hands of Pakistan. On the other hand, Japan were all out for just 52 while chasing UAE's 325/7 in their campaign opener.
Hello and welcome to another Group A match between India and Japan in Sharj.
