Daijiworld Media Network - Bulawayo
Bulawayo, Jan 16: India Under-19 fast bowler Henil Patel produced a sensational spell inspired by South African pace legend Dale Steyn, claiming a match-winning five-wicket haul against the USA in the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Patel returned impressive figures of 5/16, tearing through the American batting line-up as India registered a comfortable six-wicket victory on Thursday to begin their World Cup campaign on a high. His spell at the Queens Sports Club reduced the USA to 34/4, setting up a dominant performance by the five-time champions.
The haul is the third-best bowling figure by an Indian at any U19 World Cup, surpassed only by Kamal Passi’s 6/23 against Zimbabwe in 2012 and Anukul Roy’s 5/14 against Papua New Guinea in 2018, underlining Patel’s promise for the remainder of the tournament.
Speaking to ICC Digital ahead of the event, the 18-year-old right-arm pacer credited former South African great Dale Steyn as his biggest inspiration.
“What I get from Dale Steyn is his aggression,” Patel said. “His bowling was so good that no batter could face him easily. He was always tough to play.”
Patel revealed that his approach with the new ball is simple and aggressive, focusing on early breakthroughs. “I go in with a mindset to get the batter out within three to four deliveries. It’s about attacking the stumps, staying calm, and taking early wickets,” he added.
With three of his five wickets coming in a fiery opening spell, Patel’s performance has boosted India’s confidence as they head into their next Group match against Bangladesh at the same venue on Saturday.
India skipper Ayush Mhatre, however, called for improvement in the batting department after the team lost four wickets while chasing a modest target of 108. “We stretched the innings too long and lost four wickets. We could have finished it with none or one wicket down,” he said.
The clash against Bangladesh is expected to be crucial as India aim to secure maximum points heading into the Super Six stage of the tournament.