Harare, Feb 5 (NationPress) India is recognized as one of the most formidable teams in the ICC Men's U19 World Cup, having clinched multiple championships and consistently reached the finals. As they prepare for another climactic battle and the opportunity to secure yet another title, England’s Under-19 captain Thomas Rew is focused on treating Friday's final as ‘just another game’ while facing India in Harare.

England last lifted the trophy in 1998 and came close to victory four years ago when they faced India in the final.

Rew played a pivotal role in his team's thrilling semi-final win against Australia, scoring a brilliant century that helped secure a 27-run victory, bringing his tournament total to 299 runs at an impressive average of 74.75. He praised his top-order teammates for their contributions throughout England’s unbeaten journey in the tournament, highlighting Ben Mayes’ exceptional performance with 399 runs at an average just shy of 80, and expressed confidence that his team can overcome the final challenge.

“It means a lot,” he stated at a pre-match press conference in Harare on Thursday. “We entered this tournament with one goal, and now we have one game left. Lifting the World Cup has been a dream for us, but we must treat it as just another cricket match.”

“Batting with our top order is beneficial; each player applies pressure on the bowlers, alleviating pressure off me. All credit goes to them. Our squad's communication has been excellent, and I’m focusing on playing strong shots and hoping for the best,” the England U19 captain added.

England's bowling unit has been crucial in their success, with Manny Lumsden leading the wicket tally in the competition, having taken 15 wickets at an average of less than 12 runs per wicket. Ralphie Albert and Sebastian Morgan have also made significant contributions.

Reflecting on their successful defense of 277 runs against Australia, Rew mentioned: “It’s always advantageous to bat first on a deteriorating wicket.”

“Although it wasn’t as challenging as before, we capitalized on the conditions with our bowling; we maintained disciplined lengths. Our bowlers have executed this strategy throughout the tournament, which is why we have performed so well.”

On the other hand, India reached the finals unbeaten after finishing as runners-up two years ago and winning the tournament in 2022.

Aaron George’s remarkable 115 runs were instrumental in their successful chase of 311 runs against Afghanistan, while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set the stage with a blistering 33-ball 68.

Captain Ayush Mhatre, who contributed 62 runs with four sixes, is thrilled about the final and, similar to Rew, encourages his team to keep things simple and not be overwhelmed.

“England is a fantastic team and are performing excellently in this tournament,” he stated. “We will stick to our natural game, assess each ball, and adjust to the conditions and wicket. Our aim is to play straightforward cricket.”

“In the match against Afghanistan, we had a straightforward discussion about playing our natural game and batting for a long duration. Vaibhav's explosive start was crucial for us, relieving pressure and allowing us to build a solid innings.”

“We focused on accumulating singles and twos while capitalizing on loose deliveries for boundaries. It’s nothing special; just keeping it simple. Our bowlers performed admirably, and Afghanistan batted well. There are areas for improvement, and our bowlers will work on that,” he concluded.