ICC U19 World Cup Final 2024: Award Winners, Man of The Series, Post Match Presentation

ICC U19 World Cup Final 2024, India vs Australia: India's batting lineup misfired when it mattered the most as they suffered a heartbreaking 79-run loss to Australia in the final of the U-19 World Cup in Benoni on Sunday (February 11).

Opting to bat, Australia first posted 253 for 7, courtesy Oliver Peake's enterprising 43-ball 46 and Harjas Singh's 55 off 64 balls, and then returned to bowl out the five-time champions for 174 in 43.5 overs. Australia, thus, became four-time champions.

Chasing 254, opener Adarsh Singh made a 77-ball 47 but India kept losing wickets at regular intervals to collapse to 122 for 8 in 31.5 overs. Number 8 batter Murugan Abhishek (42 off 46 balls) then played an entertaining knock but it was too little and too late.

The loss brought back memories of Indian senior team's gut-wrenching loss to Australia in the 50-over World Cup final at home in November last year. For Australia, seamer Mahli Beardman (3/15) and off-spinner Raf MacMillan (3/43) did most of the damage. Callum Vidler (2/35) and Charlie Anderson (1/42) were the other wicket-takers.

ICC U19 World Cup Final 2024 Award Winners

Player of the Tournament: Kwena Maphaka (SA)
Player Of The Match: Mahli Beardman (AUS)
Most runs: Uday Saharan (IND) - 397
Most wickets: Kwena Maphaka - 21
Highest individual score in tournament: Snehith Reddy (NZ) - 147*
Highest individual score in final: Harjas Singh (AUS) - 55
Best bowling figure in tournament: Tazeem Ali (ENG) - 7/29
Best bowling figure in final: Mahli Beardman 3/15

ICC U19 World Cup Final 2024: Who Said What
Hugh Weibgen | Australia Captain: "So proud of the boys and our coaches. Everyone was open to batting first, our plan was get a few runs and back ourselves. (On Harjas Singh) He is a quality player, class is permanent. Full credit to the coaches for sticking with him.

"India are a class side, they dominated the whole tournament, just came the wrong side. I'm sure these guys will do a lot of great things in their career. (On the pacers )They can go so far, as a unit they know their roles so well. I'll be surprised if the four of them don't go a long way in their careers."

Uday Saharan | Indian Captain: "I'm proud of the boys, they played really well. Showed good fighting spirit throughout the tournament. We played a few rash shots today, didn't spend time in the middle. We were prepared but couldn't execute the plans. Lots of learnings from this tournament, learnt a lot from the support staff and even during the games. We will try to keep learning and getting better.

Kwena Maphaka | Player of the Tournament: "Means a lot to me. I will remember about this for the rest of the tournament. I worked on my inswing a lot, that's what helped me in this tournament. Super eager for the future, will be amazing if I can make it happen (play for South Africa). Lot of hard work to do."

Mahli Beardman | Player of the Match: "Pretty surreal, hasn't sunk it yet. It is something that we have been working for a long time, happy it paid off. (On Indian team) They have been incredible, we knew it would be a good battle. I backed my short balls and tried to smash it into the wicket.

"(On Dennis Lillee's coaching) Through him, I've learnt a lot of mental stuff. Thinking about my bowling, thinking about field settings. He's been incredible, always a pleasure to bowl alongside him. Future goals will be probably the Big Bash, and go back home and try to play some cricket for my state."