Captains Thomas Rew and Oliver Peake played crucial knocks in the semi-final of the Under-19 World Cup yesterday - here are the top ten innings played by skippers in the knockouts of the competition.
10. Shimron Hetmyer - 60 vs Bangladesh, 2016 semi-final
After Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz top-scored with 60 (74 balls), to help them post 226 in 50 overs, the West Indies reached 44 for no loss in just five overs. However, they lost two quick wickets, with Shimron Hetmyer batting at No.3. He made 60 in 59 balls before he fell in the 28th over. Shamar Springer scored 62*as the West Indies won the semi-final with eight balls to spare.
9. Aiden Markram - 105* vs Afghanistan, 2014 quarter-final
South Africa were chasing a paltry 198 for a place in the semi-final, and it was a smooth passage for them. Despite losing opener Clyde Fortuin for 32 in the 10th over, skipper Aiden Markram and Kirwin Christoffels (57*) saw them through, as South Africa reached the target in 39.2 overs. Markram’s 105* was compiled over 118 balls, with nine fours.
8. Denesh Ramdin - 72 vs England, 2004 semi-final
West Indies were batting first at Dhaka, but were in a slight spot of bother at 30-2. They soon became 69-3, which is when skipper Denesh Ramdin walked out to bat. Along with Assad Fudadin (51) and then Zamal Khan (60*), Ramdin took West Indies over the 200-run mark. They ended with 249-6, which was enough for a massive 94-run win.
7. Mitchell Marsh - 97 vs Sri Lanka, 2010 semi-final
Chasing a low score of 206, Australia were in trouble when they lost their openers within 6.2 overs, with 25 runs on the board. It soon became 38-3, before Marsh and Jason Floros steadied the ship. Despite the 49-run stand, Australia were in a spot of bother once again: From 87-3, they became 93-5, as Sri Lanka sensed a chance. Marsh, however, kept going, eventually falling three runs away from his hundred. His dismissal, at 161-7, could have been the match-changer, but Tom Triffitt (50) took them close.
6. Aiden Markram - 66* vs Pakistan, 2014 final
Chasing 132 to win their maiden global ICC tournament, South Africa fell to 28-2 within 11.4 overs. Aiden Markram, who opened the innings at Dubai, played a steady hand, combining with Greg Oldfield (40) to take the team close, before the Proteas lost two wickets in the span of six balls. Markram, however, remained unbeaten, facing 125 balls, as he took them over the line.
5. Uday Saharan - 81 vs South Africa, 2024 semi-final
South Africa opted to bat first at Benoni, with the game also providing a first glimpse of future star Lhuan-dre Pretorius. He made 76 in 102, as they ended with 244-7. In reply, India got off to the worst possible start, as they were 32-4 in just 11.2 overs. Captain Uday Saharan, who batted at No.4, took on the responsibility, reaching his half-century as India were back in the game. Sachin Dhas also contributed with a 96, but Saharan stayed on till longer, with India winning on the very next ball after his dismissal.
4. Oliver Peake - 100 vs England, 2026 semi-final
Oliver Peake found himself walking out at 47-2 in the 13th over, after England - led by Thomas Rew’s hundred - posted 277. Barring Nitesh Samuel (47) and Aryan Sharma (34), no other Australia batter made more than 15 in the innings, with Peake playing a lone hand. Australia kept losing regular wickets and were 201-7 at one stage. He reached his hundred in 88 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six, but was the last batter to fall as Australia lost by 27 runs.
3. Yash Dhull - 110 vs Australia, 2022 semi-final
Yash Dhull, batting at No.4, along with Shaik Rasheed (94), anchored the innings after India were 37-2 in 12.3 overs. The duo put on a 204-run stand before the latter departed for a run-a-ball 110. Some late fireworks from Dinesh Bana (20 in four) helped India post 290-5, which proved to be 96 runs too many.
2. Thomas Rew - 110 vs Australia, 2026 semi-final
Before Peake’s hundred, it was Thomas Rew who stole the show in the first semi-final at Bulawayo. England were 60-3, but Rew held fort, posting 110 in 107 balls, as he took them to a respectable total of 277-7. He had little support from anyone else - barring Caleb Falconer’s 40, no other batter made over 30 in the innings. His knock proved decisive, with Australia nearly overhauling the target, only to fall short by 27 runs.
1. Unmukt Chand - 111* vs Australia, 2012 final
Arguably the best knock by a captain in the knockouts of an Under-19 World Cup, Unmukt Chand’s 111* is also the highest by any skipper in the knockouts of the competition. Chasing 226 for a win, India lost Prashant Chopra for a duck in the second over. Chand then put on 73 runs with Baba Aparajith (33), but at 97-4, India looked in trouble.
Along with wicketkeeper Smit Patel, Chand ensured the asking rate did not climb too steeply, despite surviving a few close calls. He started nervously, survived an lbw shout on three, and was dropped by William Bosisto, but made full use of his opportunities. The match was a nail-biter, with the equation boiling down to 49 off 41, but some big hits towards the end by Chand saw them home to a memorable win.
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