Captain Yash Dhull hit a superb 82 while Vicky Ostwal (5/28) and Raj Bawa (4/47) struck with the ball as India got their U-19 World Cup campaign off to an emphatic start, brushing South Africa aside by 45 runs at the Providence Stadium in Providence (Guyana) on Saturday.

In reply to India’s 232 in 46.5 overs, South Africa were bundled out for 187 with 26 balls remaining.

Put in to bat, India had lost openers Harnoor Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi with just 11 runs on the board in the sixth over. Coming in at No.4, Dhull looked solid and steady right from the onset as Shaik Rasheed (31) and he focused on building a solid foundation with their 71-run third-wicket partnership.

He continued to score steadily with a little bit of assistace from Nishant Sindhu (27). The situation could well have become tougher for the Indians, but the New Delhi-based Dhull ensured otherwise.

India next face Ireland on Wednesday.

Brief scores: India U-19 232 in 46.5 ovs (Y. Dhull 82, M. Boast 3/40). South Africa U-19 187 in 45.4 ovs (D. Brevis 65, V. Ostwal 5/28, R. Bawa 4/47). India U-19 won by 45 runs.