Australia set for India U-19 final

Australia say they're ready to combat India's spinners in the under-19 cricket World Cup decider, after their opponents flogged Pakistan in the semi-final.

Australia say they're ready to handle India's spinners in the under-19s cricket World Cup final after their opponents powered their way to the final with a 203-run flogging of Pakistan.

A day after Australia cruised to victory against Afghanistan, India rolled their arch-rivals for just 69 in Christchurch on Tuesday after they were held to 9-272 from their 50 overs.

India's spinners claimed six of the wickets, as they continued their unbeaten run through the Cup after a tournament-opening 110-run victory over Australia earlier this month.

But 17-year-old Australian opener Jack Edwards, who struck a half-century against India in that match, insisted that experience will help combat India's turners on Saturday in Mount Maunganui.

"It will definitely be helpful to look back on that game and execute plans that did work out," Edwards said.

"Even the way we played the spinners (against Afghanistan), a lot of that was from the learning we took out of the India game.

"It's been something we've put a bit of focus on in the nets over the past few games and spoken about tactics with the coaches about how to try and get on top of these spinners.

"I thought we played Afghanistan's spin well. It was a really good sign of that, we went after them and really got on top of them.""

Australia and India - both record three-times winners of the tournament - last met in an under-19s World Cup final in 2012 in Townsville, where India claimed a six-wicket victory.

Even if Australia's batsmen can find a way to quell India's spinners, they must also blunt captain Shubman Gill with the bat.

His unbeaten 102 against Pakistan on Tuesday took his tally to 341 for the tournament, having been dismissed just twice at an average of 170.5.

Meanwhile Edwards, the younger brother of Sixers' quick Mickey, has been the star for Australia with the bat with 188 runs at 47.

Legspinner Lloyd Pope also poses a threat for Australia after claiming a match-winning 8-35 against England in the quarter-final, while Jonathan Merlo has claimed five scalps at an average of 10.


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Source: AAP



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