Highlights, India vs Japan, U19 World Cup 2020: India thrash Japan by 10 wickets, storm into quarter-finals

So a great day of cricket for India as they win by 10 wickets. Not so much for Japan who'll take this defeat and the learnings that it brings for this inexperienced young side. India will play their final match of the group stages against New Zealand which should be their toughest outing thus far. As of now, India sit on top of their table and have qualified for the quarter-finals. 

We'll be back for the live coverage of India vs New Zealand match in the Under-19 World Cup on 24th January. Until then, Goodbye!

India captain Priyam Garg: I'm very happy with the performance. Our bowlers were good. Spinners were bowling really well but our seamers could have bowled better at the start. 

There's no pressure on us as the defending champions. It's a great opportunity for us to perform for our country and we try to do our best. 

Japan captain Marcus Thurgate: I knew it was going to be a very tough game. It's disappointing no doubt. The first thing we can do is go back home and try and face tougher oppositions, learn from our mistakes and hopefully, we'll get better with time. 

Man of the match, Ravi Bishnoi: I was sure of my planning, wanted to bowl wicket to wicket and I think I executed it very well. I think I will continue with my good work in the coming matches. 

And it's all over. India chase down the measly target of 42 inside 5 overs. India win by 10 wickets with a LOT of balls to spare.  

FOUR!

Ashley Thurgate into the attack and bowls short and slow. Kushagra had all the time to pull it for a boundary past backward square leg. 

After 1 overs,India Under-19 4/0 ( Yashasvi Jaiswal 4 , Kumar Kushagra 0)

Japan wicket-keeper and captain Marcus Thurgate is trying to inspire his troops with some chatter from behind the stumps but Jaiswal hits a boundary in the first over itself. Not much that can be done here by Japan against this superior Indian side. 

15-YEAR-OLD Kushagra Kumar comes in for Divyaansh Saxena while Yashasvi Jaiswal accompanies him to the crease. For Japan, off-spinner Yugandha Retharekar gets the ball for Japan. The India innings is underway. 

Dhruv Jurel: It will be a good birthday for me when we win this match. Our bowlers could have bowled tighter with the new ball but it's okay. We will try finishing this match quickly now. 

Five batsmen in the Japan batting order were out for zero. For Indian, Ravi Bishnoi was the star with the ball, taking 4 wickets. Kartik Tyagi took 3, Akash Singh took a couple while Vidyadhar Patil took 1. 

Japan's 41 all out is the joint-lowest total for a team in Under-19 World Cup cricket. 

OUT!

Ota-Dobell's 39-ball vigil ends with a soft dismissal. He chips a length ball to mid-on for an easy catch and goes for 7. Japan are bowled out for 41 inside 23 overs. Akash Singh gets his second wicket. 

OUT!

Tyagi bowls full and straight and the ball crashes onto the batsman Max Clement's toe. It's plumb in front and the umpire gives him out LBW. He goes for 5. Tyagi has his third wicket. 

After 14 overs,Japan Under-19 23/7 ( Kento Dobell 2 , Maximillian Clements 1)

Maximillian Clements attempts a wild swing over long-on against Ravi Bishnoi but only edges it over first slip for a single. Just the one run from the over and it’s drinks break.

OUT!

Debashish Sahoo was looking to nudge the ball on the on-side but gets a leading edge off the bowling of Vidyadhar Patil. The ball gets lobbed up where captain Priyam Garg dives to take the catch. 

OUT!

Bishnoi is running through the Japan batting order here. Bowls a full delivery which turns away, Ashley Thurgate looks to drive it, but instead, edges it to the slips for an easy catch. 

OUT!

Another perfect wrong-un from Bishnoi. Identical dismissal from the previous one. New batsman Kazumasa Takahashi plays for turn, only to see the ball rattle the stumps. He goes for a golden duck. 

OUT!

Leg-break bowler Ravi Bishnoi comes in. Noguchi leaves the ball, hoping it will turn away but instead, the ball straightens and crashes into the stumps. Embarrassing dismissal that really. Noguchi goes for 7. 

After 5 overs, Japan Under-19 6/2 ( Shu Noguchi 1, Debashish Sahoo 0)

Tyagi picks up two wickets in quick succession and Japan’s inexperience showing now. New batsman Debashish Sahoo safely negotiates the remaining two deliveries. Just the one run from the over as Tyagi bowled a wide.

OUT!

Tyagi bowls full and straight. The new batsman in Neel Date - born in Pune - fails to get his bat down in time, gets trapped LBW and goes for 0. 

OUT!

Japanese captain Marcus Thurgate plays across the line, leaving a huge gap between bat and pad. He gets bowled by Kartik Tyagi and goes for just the one run from 18 deliveries. India off the mark. 

Kartik Tyagi will bowl to Japanese captain Marcus Thurgate. And we are underway. 

We are done with the national anthems. Live action coming up next. 

PITCH UPDATE: There are some clouds over Bloemfontein and the forecast predicts a spell of rain. The pitch looks like a belter for batting, not a tinge of grass on it. The ball should come rather nicely on the bat. 

Japan U19: Marcus Thurgate(w/c), Shu Noguchi, Neel Date, Debashish Sahoo, Kazumasa Takahashi, Ishaan Fartyal, Ashley Thurgate, Kento Ota Dobell, Max Clements, Yugandhar Retharekar, Sora Ichiki

India U19: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kumar Kushagra, Tilak Varma, Priyam Garg(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Siddhesh Veer, Shashwat Rawat, Ravi Bishnoi, Vidyadhar Patil, Kartik Tyagi, Akash Singh

TOSS UPDATE: India win the toss and opt to bowl first 

The Japanese captain Marcus Thurgate, however, isn't one to lose hope and is hoping that his team can replicate the upset sprung by the Japan Rugby Team against South Africa 'Springboks' in the opening match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. 

Japan will have their task cut out against this heavyweight Indian side. In their warm-up matches, Japan conceded 300-plus totals against both Scotland and UAE, before being bowled out for 69 and 129 respectively. Their opening match of the group stages had New Zealand cruising at 195/2 in just 29 overs before the match was called off due to rain. Compare that with the Indian Under-19 side which has won 9 of its last 10 Youth ODIs. Japan may well be in for a reality check today. 

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of India's ICC U-19 World Cup 2020 Group A clash against debutantes Japan. Priyam Garg and Co got off to a superb against Sri Lanka, beating the Islanders by 90 runs.

Meanwhile, Japan have already earned their first-ever point following an abandoned match against New Zealand due to rain. Stay tuned as we will bring you updates from the match. ​