India Under-19 produced a comprehensive bowling display to bundle out New Zealand U19 for just 135 in their ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 Group B match at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, setting the stage for another dominant performance in the tournament. The disciplined effort from India’s bowlers left the Kiwis with a total that was always going to be difficult to defend, showcasing India’s strength on both sides of the ball.
New Zealand’s innings never really gathered momentum. After being asked to bat first on a rain-affected day, they struggled from the outset as India’s pace and spin units applied consistent pressure. The early wicket blitz — which reduced the Kiwis to 69/7 inside the first half of their innings — was a defining phase, as disciplined bowling cut off scoring options and forced batters into risky shots.
The collapse was triggered by R.S. Ambrish, who led India’s attack with an impressive return of 4/29, using the new ball effectively and exploiting any movement on offer. His ability to swing the ball and hit the right areas made life difficult for the New Zealand top order, who struggled to build partnerships. Henil Patel supported brilliantly with the ball as well, finishing with 3/23, further strangling any attempts at recovery.
New Zealand’s middle and lower order attempted brief resistance, with Callum Samson (37 not out) and Selwin Sanjay (28) putting together a partnership that just about nudged the total past 130. But even that stand lacked the impact necessary to flip the momentum back in favour of the Kiwis, and India’s bowlers responded quickly to close out the tail.
The Indian bowlers backed up their early breakthroughs with intelligent variation and relentless accuracy throughout the innings. Whether it was tight lengths from the seamers or clever changes in pace from spinners, they managed to strangle run-scoring avenues while always threatening to take the next wicket.
Restricting New Zealand to 135 all out — especially after they had shown promise in earlier matches — was a statement of intent from India U19. It highlighted not only their skill execution but also their mental composure in reading conditions and sticking to game plans under pressure.
India’s chase, revised under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method due to rain interruptions, was always going to be manageable with that sort of total on the board. Though the target was adjusted to 130 in 37 overs, India approached the chase with the same aggression that defined their bowling effort. Ayush Mhatre (53 off 27) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (40 off 23) anchored a swift 76-run partnership that effectively ended any chance of a Kiwi comeback, and India completed the job comfortably with 130/3 in 13.3 overs.
The victory not only extended India’s unbeaten run in the group stage but also underscored their all-round excellence at this U19 World Cup. Bowling out a competitive side like New Zealand for a modest total reflects India’s tactical discipline and execution — vital ingredients as they look to carry momentum into the Super Six stage and beyond.
For New Zealand U19, the defeat exposes areas for improvement, particularly at the top of the order and in handling disciplined bowling attacks. For India, it reinforces their status as strong title contenders — a unit capable of dominating with both bat and ball.
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