Preview: India U19s v Papua New Guinea U19s
India and Papua New Guinea (PNG) could barely have had more contrasting starts to the tournament. While India’s opening game was an almost-complete performance over much-fancied Australia, Papua New Guinea were thrashed by Zimbabwe in a rain-shortened clash, which means they must win to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
India meanwhile will want not just to win, but to lay down a marker to make sure all the other teams know to be afraid of them. Their one worry will be the fitness of fast bowler Ishan Porel, who hurt his ankle after slipping in his delivery stride against Australia. He will be sent for a scan, but India may well look to rest and rotate regardless of the results.
Form guide
India’s victory against Australia came after a warm-up win and home-and-away series wins against England, but also after a group stage exit at the Under 19 Asia Cup. India were however missing batsman Prithvi Shaw, and Shubman Gill, and fast bowlers Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi for that tournament. In the comprehensive win over Australia those two batsmen, alongside Manjot Kalra, scored excellent fifties, while the two quicks topped 145 kph and claimed three wickets each. With them in the side, they look a different and more imposing team.
Papua New Guinea were unbeaten in their qualifying tournament, but lost their warm-up game heavily to West Indies before being thumped by Zimbabwe – having been bowled out for 95, PNG were powerless to stop their opponents coasting home by 10 wickets.
Players to watch
Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Ind)
Most of the pre-match hype was around Prithvi ‘the new Sachin’ Shaw and his band of batsmen. But while they didn't disappoint, perhaps most eye-catching was the pace at which India’s quicks bowled, with Australia largely unable to cope. Skidding the ball on from a low height, with a smooth action and braced front leg, Kamlesh Nagarkoti was the pick and quickest of the bowlers. With Ishan Porel an injury doubt, Nagarkoti may take the new ball, and since PNG will never have faced a bowler nearly as quick as him, he could cause havoc.
Ovia Sam (PNG)
All PNG’s batsmen struggled against Zimbabwe, but Ovia Sam looked the most assured, and also the most likely to succeed in a full-length innings, relying on risk-free singles and doubles - his 24 came at better than a run a ball despite containing no boundaries. With India unlikely to offer many loose deliveries, the ability to rotate the strike will be crucial.
World Cup history
India won their first title in 2000, with Yuvraj Singh claiming the player of the tournament award, a feat he would emulate for the senior side in 2011 as India won the World Cup proper. The 2004 player of the tournament also came from India, though the Shikhar Dhawan-inspired side lost to Pakistan in the final. The 2008 side, captained by one Virat Kohli, also claimed the title, and India added a third triumph in 2012. In 2016 they came desperately close to securing a record-breaking fourth trophy, but were beaten by West Indies in a last-over thriller.
This will be PNG’s eighth Under 19 World Cup appearance, with their most recent coming in 2014, but they have never made the quarter-finals with a best finish of 12th in the 2008 and 2010 editions. The 2012 competition saw the first – and to date only – century made by a PNG batsman at this level, as Christopher Kent scored 105 not out against Afghanistan.
Head to head
India and PNG have faced off three times in the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup, India winning by over 100 runs each time, PNG dismissed for less than 100 every time.
Forecast
There are showers forecast for the morning in Tauranga, but these are set to stop by the time play starts in the afternoon, though clouds may remain.
Squads
PNG: Vagi Karaho (c), Sema Kamea, Eisa Eka, James Tau, Tau Toa Nou, Nou Rarua, Igo Mahuru, Simon Atai, Leke Morea, Kevau Tau, Heagi Toua, Daure Aiga, Ovia Sam, Sinaka Arua, Boge Arua.
**India:**Prithvi Shaw (C), Shubman Gill, Aryan Juyal, Abhishek Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, Harvik Desai, Manjot Kalra, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Pankaj Yadav, Riyan Parag, Ishan Porel, Himanshu Rana, Anukul Roy, Shivam Mavi, Shiva Singh