U19 World Cup Final: India Goes for Sixth, England for First Since 1998

India is going for their sixth Under-19 World Cup title, while England aims to win their first since 1998. The final match is being played at the Harare Sports Club in Zimbabwe, with India batting first after winning the toss. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been in top form, scoring 264 runs in six matches, and will be a key player for India. England, on the other hand, is looking to overcome their 2022 runner-up finish and claim their first title in 28 years. India were faced with a tall task of chasing down a record-setting 311, against Afghanistan. However, India's batters - led by a swashbuckling century by opener Aaron George - raced to the target with 53 balls and seven wickets to spare, to lay down the marker on a Harare pitch that should continue to have plenty in it for the batters. India and England's Under-19 teams are facing off in the World Cup final, and it's a whole new ball game compared to their recent warm-up match. England's James Rew impressed with a 66-ball 71*, but this time around, the stakes are much higher. Thomas Rew has led England from the front in more ways than one. He is the fourth-highest run-getter in the tournament, with 299 runs at an average of 74.75 and an equally impressive strike rate of 101.01. His footwork has been a class above his fellow England batters against spin especially, and if the Harare surface decides to spin and bounce, he will be keen to take off from where he left during his century against Australia in the first semi-final. In six matches at Harare in this tournament, teams have scored at a run rate of 5.42. If the true surface on display during the India vs Afghanistan semi-final was any indication, the final might be another high-scoring affair between two explosive batting line-ups. India's captain, Ayush Mhatre, has won the toss and elected to bat first. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is on fire, scoring 175 off 80 balls, while England is looking to contain India's strong batting lineup.