Australia Ready for India Challenge in U19 Cricket World Cup Final
Australia captain Hugh Weibgen is eager for his team to embrace the “fight” against reigning champions India in Sunday’s ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Final.
The Aussies booked their place in the decider with a dramatic one-wicket victory over Pakistan on Thursday. Now, they have two days to prepare for facing the five-time U19 World Cup winners, in a repeat of the thrilling encounters they shared in the ICC World Test Championship Final and ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Final last year.
“India are a class team, they’ll come out and compete really hard – we’ll love that challenge, we’ll love that fight and we are really looking forward to it,” Weibgen said.
Australia seeks its fourth U19 World Cup title, with their last victory coming in 2010 under Mitch Marsh’s leadership. Replicating that performance hinges on their pace attack, especially semi-final hero Tom Straker.
Straker dismantled Pakistan’s top order with a record-breaking 6/24 spell, limiting them to 179.
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Chasing seemed straightforward with Harry Dixon’s 50 and Ollie Peake’s 49 putting Australia at 102/4. However, Pakistani quicks struck back, leaving the onus on Raf MacMillan and Callum Vidler to finish the job. MacMillan’s boundary off the first ball of the final over secured the win.
“There was quite a bit of emotion in the dressing room. I was quite tense and excited too. I still don’t know what really happened, but it was awesome.”
“We had full faith in Vids and Raf to get the job done,” admitted Weibgen, acknowledging the tension in the dressing room. “I still don’t know what really happened, but it was awesome.”
Pakistan captain Saad Baig, although disappointed by his team’s below-par total and penultimate-over dismissal, commended their effort. “We were short of runs, but we gave our 100 percent,” he said, praising their performance throughout the tournament.
With both teams hungry for victory, Sunday’s final promises to be a captivating clash between two finalists of seniors Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
