India U-19 players performed admirably in all departments to thrash Malaysia by eight wickets in the opening match of the Asia Cup U-19 tournament.
Opting to field, India led by Unmukt Chand bowled out the hosts for 126 in 39.3 overs and then knocked off the runs with 19 overs to spare.
Lanky left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra was adjudged man-of-the-match for his figures of four for 18 while skipper Chand and pacer Rush Kalaria also got two wickets apiece. While batting it was Baba Aparajith (38) who emerged as the top-scorer.
India were in control right from the beginning as they snared seven wickets in the first 27 overs to sent minnows reeling.
The match started in right earnest for India as pacer Sandeep Sharma breached opener Pasha Syafiq Ali defences with the very first delivery of the match. Keithan Goonasagaran (2) then edged one of seamer Rush Kalaria to glovesman Smit Patel behind the stumps.
Kalaria then castled Fikri Rosdi (12) to make it 29 for three. Then it was Mishra who made life difficult for the Malaysian batsmen with his accuracy. The batsmen had no answer for his arm-balls as he got three leg-before decisions in his favour.
While batting openers Manan Vohra (26) and Unmukt Chand (37) added 50 runs for the opening wicket. Although both openers were dismissed Aparajith and Vijay Zol (20 no) helped the winners reach the target with minimum fuss.
Brief Scores:
Malaysia U-19: 126 in 39.3 overs (Derek Duraisingam 21, V Misra 4/18)
India U-19: 130/2 in 31 overs (B Aparajith 38 no, Unmukt Chand 37).
