Bulawayo, Jan 24 (.) RS Ambrish’s incisive bowling powered India Under-19 to a seven-wicket (DLS Method) victory over New Zealand U19 in the 24th match of Group B at Queens Sports Club in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026, here on Saturday.
After winning the toss, India chose to bowl, and Ambrish immediately put New Zealand on the back foot, claiming four crucial wickets for 29 runs. Henil Patel supported with three wickets for 23 runs, while Khilan Patel and Kanishk Chouhan chipped in with one wicket each. Despite late resistance from Callum Samson, who remained unbeaten on 37, and Selwin Sanjay’s 28, New Zealand was restricted to 136 all out in 36.2 overs.
Ambrish struck decisively, removing Hugo Bogue, Tom Jones, Marco Alpe, and Selwin Sanjay with a combination of inswinging yorkers, clever slower balls, and precise line and length, breaking key partnerships and keeping the opposition under constant pressure.
Patel complemented him brilliantly, finishing the innings by bowling Flynn Morey and Mason Clarke with perfect yorkers and change-of-pace deliveries. Patel also accounted for Aryan Mann, whose inside-edge misjudgment further tilted the match in India’s favour.
Together, Ambrish and Patel shared seven of New Zealand’s ten wickets, laying a solid platform for India’s explosive middle-order.
In reply, India chased the revised DLS target with authority. Captain Ayush Mhatre played a scintillating 53 off 27 balls, including six sixes and two fours, before being caught by Flynn Morey.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed a breezy 40 off 23 balls, with three sixes and two fours. Vihaan Malhotra and Vedant Trivedi remained unbeaten on 17 and 13 respectively, guiding India to 130 for 3 in just 13.3 overs.
The chase was marked by a flurry of boundaries and towering sixes. Mhatre attacked from the outset, dispatching deliveries from Morey, Mason Clarke, and Jaskaran Sandhu over the ropes, while Sooryavanshi matched his aggression with back-to-back sixes off Callum Samson and well-timed fours.
Malhotra’s timely contributions accelerated the scoring rate further. Key partnerships between Mhatre and Sooryavanshi, followed by Malhotra and Trivedi, ensured India maintained momentum despite early wickets of Aaron George and Sooryavanshi.
Ambrish’s match-winning spell set the tone for India’s dominance, breaking crucial partnerships and putting New Zealand under pressure, while the explosive middle-order capitalized to secure a comfortable win. The victory strengthens India U19’s position in Group B and underlines their credentials as serious title contenders. . . .