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Ambidextrous Aussie spinner lights up Under-19 Cricket World Cup

Nivethan Radhakrishnan, pictured here bowling right and left-handed.
Nivethan Radhakrishnan can bowl right and left-handed. Image: Fox Sports

Australia may have crashed out of Under 19 Cricket World Cup at the semi-final stage on Thursday, but it looks as thought they've unearthed some pretty incredible talents.

The Aussies' hopes of a fourth U-19 Cricket World Cup title were crushed by a 96-run loss to India in their semi-final clash in the Caribbean.

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Having won the toss and electing to bat first, India amassed 5-290 with a 204-run third-wicket partnership between captain Yash Dhull and vice-captain Shaik Rasheed turning the match on its head.

Australia's run chase never materialised as wickets fell at regular intervals before they were dismissed for 194 in the 42nd over.

However not all is lost from Australia's campaign, with a number of huge talents showing off their skills on the global stage.

One of those talents is ambidextrous spinner Nivethan Radhakrishnan, who can bowl left and right-handed.

Radhakrishnan sent down two overs during the semi-final, going for 13 runs. He also made 11 while batting left-handed at No.6.

He wound up with four wickets in just three matches in the tournament, including a beauty of a ball against the West Indies that lit up social media.

His best performance with the ball came in that match against the Windies, taking 3-48 from 10 overs.

He also made 31 against the Windies and 21 against Sri Lanka to underline his all-round capabilities.

However its his ability to bowl with both arms that's really caught the attention of the cricket world.

Depending on which way he wants the ball to spin, Radhakrishnan can deliver it either left or right-handed and has the capability to switch in the middle of an over.

The Indian-born Tasmania-based player games against Scotland and Pakistan due to Covid-19, before returning for Thursday's semi-final.

Aussies lose to India in World Cup semi-final

Australia will round out their tournament against Afghanistan in the third-place playoff on Saturday (AEDT).

India - who have accounted for Australia in the past three editions of the youth tournament - will play England in the final.

The match at Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua started brightly for Australia as they dismissed both India openers within the first 13 overs and restricted the run rate.

But Dhull and Rasheed then set about taking the game away from the Australians, dominating the bowlers and piling on the runs as they took the score from 2-37 to 3-241 in 33.2 overs.

Nivethan Radhakrishnan, pictured here in action for Australia against Sri Lanka at the U19 Cricket World Cup.
Nivethan Radhakrishnan in action for Australia against Sri Lanka at the U19 Cricket World Cup. (Photo by Michael Steele-ICC/ICC via Getty Images) (Michael Steele-ICC via Getty Images)

Their onslaught only came to end when Dull was run out in unusual circumstances for a run-a-ball 110 - at the non-striker's end as Jack Nisbet got a fingertip to a Rasheed straight drive.

Rasheed followed his captain back to the sheds on the next delivery for 94, as Jack Sinfield grasped a sharp chance at backward point.

Australia's innings started disastrously with run machine Teague Wyllie out lbw for one in the second over.

A partnership of 68 between Campbell Kellaway (30) and Corey Miller (38) proved to be the best the Aussies could muster as their dismissals within two runs led to a collapse from 1-71 in the 17th over to 4-83.

With the required run-rate beyond seven, the task became insurmountable with India's spinners Vicky Ostwal (3-42) and Nishant Sindhu (2-25) ripping through the batting order.

A half-century from Lachlan Shaw maintained some respectability on the scoreboard but his 51 from 66 balls and the efforts of No.9 Sinfield (20) and No.10 Whitney (19) simply delayed the inevitable.

with AAP

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