BULAWAYO: India Under-19s delivered a performance of pure dominance, crushing New Zealand by seven wickets (DLS method) in their Group B clash of the U19 World Cup 2026 on Saturday.
The victory, sealed in a breathtaking 13.3 overs, was set up by a ruthless bowling display and capped by a ferocious, six-laden chase led by Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
Ambrish, spinners Strangle New Zealand
After being asked to field in a rain-shortened 37-over contest, India’s bowlers executed a near-perfect plan.
Seamer RS Ambrish was the spearhead, ripping through the top order with a fiery spell that reduced New Zealand to a catastrophic 22 for 5.
He finished with excellent figures of 4 for 29, removing the Kiwi captain and wicketkeeper in quick succession.
The spin trio of Henil Patel (3-23), Khilan Patel (1-26), and Mohamed Enaan (1-26) then applied a suffocating grip on the middle order.
While Jacob Cotter (23) and Jaskaran Sandhu (18) offered brief resistance, regular wickets ensured New Zealand never recovered.
A spirited 53-run stand for the eighth wicket between Callum Samson (37*) and Selwin Sanjay (28) provided a glimmer of respectability, but the Kiwis were eventually bundled out for 135 in the 37th over.
Mhatre, Suryavanshi unleash Six-hitting barrage
In response, India’s chase was nothing short of spectacular. After the early loss of Aaron George, Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi launched a breathtaking assault on the New Zealand bowling.
Mhatre, in particular, was devastating, blasting 53 runs from just 27 balls, peppering the boundary with power and precision. Suryavanshi provided explosive support, smashing 40 from 23 deliveries.
Their partnership, filled with audacious sixes, completely demoralized the opposition and brought the target of 130 into rapid view.
The finishing touches were applied calmly by Vihaan Malhotra (17) and Vedant Trivedi (13), who guided India across the line in a mere 13.3 overs.
