India's under-19 cricket team clinched a thrilling 18-run victory over Bangladesh in a rain-affected World Cup clash on Saturday. The match turned dramatically thanks to a brilliant spell from off-spinner Vihaan Malhotra.
Malhotra's Match-Turning Spell
Vihaan Malhotra delivered a sensational performance with the ball, taking four wickets for just fourteen runs. His precise off-spin dismantled Bangladesh's middle order at a crucial moment. Bangladesh had looked comfortable at 102 for 2 after twenty overs, well ahead of the DLS par score of 88.
Malhotra claimed the wickets of Kalam Siddiki, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Rizan Hossan, and Samiun Basir in quick succession. His spell sparked panic in the Bangladeshi camp and completely changed the course of the match.
Bangladesh's Dramatic Collapse
From a strong position of 106 for 2, Bangladesh collapsed spectacularly to 146 all out in just 28.3 overs. They fell well short of the revised target of 165 runs set by the DLS method.
Captain Azizul Hakim top-scored for Bangladesh with a composed 51 off 72 balls, but his dismissal by Khilan Patel proved decisive. Henil Patel wrapped up the tail by removing Iqbal Hossain Emon to seal the victory for India.
India's Innings Recovery
Earlier in the day, India had been restricted to 238 runs in a reduced 49-over contest. Bangladesh's Al Fahad starred with the ball, taking five wickets for thirty-eight runs to rattle the Indian top order.
However, India staged a remarkable recovery through Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhigyan Kundu. Sooryavanshi played a controlled knock of 72 off 67 balls, while Kundu anchored the innings with 80 off 112 deliveries. The pair added 62 runs off 101 balls to rescue India from early trouble.
Group Standings and Aftermath
The victory means India now top Group B with four points from two matches. Bangladesh and the United States remain without points, while New Zealand has not yet begun its campaign.
Players from both sides exchanged handshakes and pleasantries after the tense encounter. This stood in contrast to the captains avoiding a handshake at the toss earlier in the day.
Brief scores: India 238 in 48.4 overs (Abhigyan Kundu 80, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 72; Al Fahad 5/38) beat Bangladesh 146 in 28.3 overs (Azizul Hakim 51; Vihaan Malhotra 4/14) by 18 runs via DLS method.
