Less than 75 overs across two matches were required for two of the pre-tournament favourites to complete their second wins of the competition
Credit: ICC/Getty
Japan's players will never have seen anyone like Ravi Bishnoi, and it showed. Their middle-order just couldn't pick his variations which did for four of their batsmen. Finishing with 4-5 from his eight overs, he caused chaos in Bloemfontein.
Bishnoi has already been picked up for the Indian Premier League by Kings XI Punjab - he will earn just over £200,000 for two months' work - and has plenty of experience in his country's domestic game. He'll pick up a hat-full of wickets during this competition.
But we could do without the showboating. During the twilight of his spell, he approached the crease from the opposite side of the wicket to his regular approach, crossing in front of the umpire before delivering right-arm over.
It was nothing if not experimental. But against a Japan side who were being left for dust, it was unnecessary and smacked of arrogance. The victory was all-but secured by this point.
India knocked off the 42 runs needed for victory inside five overs. There were no flamboyant strokes or batsmen dancing down the wicket, just proper cricket shots.
The division in class in this tournament, at least during the group stage, is going to be striking. For the likes of India, the competition doesn't start until after the preliminary stage. The same very much goes for Japan, too.
So acts of pomposity are not needed when the chasm in preparation, resources, and ability are so large. Don't humiliate the opponent more than you already have.
U19 World Cup Diary: "There's a real buzz around, and England have no one to fear in this competition"
Both matches on day five evaded the rain which was expected to fall in the afternoon. But as the week wears on, the inclement weather which is predicted could threaten results in other matches.
Such is the rain that has already fallen, particularly in Potchefstroom, Kimberley and Bloemfontein, the outfields are already looking worse for wear. They are very lush, particularly around the boundaries meaning shots through the inner ring are not running to the rope as you might expect.
The soft conditions underfoot are also making fielding a challenge. Misfields have been regular occurrences during matches, with nearly every team guilty of at least one handling error so far.
Disaster nearly struck in Japan's innings when Shu Noguchi shuffled an errant delivery from Akash Singh towards third man.
The boundary rider ran around, dived, but caught his knee in the turf and thus missed the ball which ran to the rope. It was Japan's first four in any ICC competition, but it very nearly came at a cost. Serious injury was avoided, but it could have been so much worse.
The ICC might have its name and branding plastered all over this competition, and each team are decked out in their distinctive and recognisable colours. But there are few other characteristics that give this tournament the feel of sophistication.
There is no DRS. The third umpire is only in position for matches on TV. Pitches are being used over and over again and already look slow and tired. Social media exposure is limited (more on that later). It is as though the ICC have something to hide.
Rakibul Hasan has taken a hat-trick for Bangladesh!
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) January 21, 2020
Brilliant bowling 👏 👏 #U19CWC | #BANvSCO | #FutureStars pic.twitter.com/rb2lqPZG44
As previously mentioned, the ICC's official channels and those of the competing nations have been slow on the uptake during this World Cup. Some have been better than others, but it perhaps hasn't been given the platform it should have been.
We might be in the third week of January but the cricket calendar is full to the brim. It is only natural that things get missed.
Rakibul Hasan broke through Scotland's middle order with a hat-trick in the 24th over on Bangladesh's way to victory over Scotland - the greatest piece of cricket no-one will have seen this week, due to the match not being broadcast - and it barely made a ripple on the world wide web.
The official Cricket World Cup Twitter account was slow on the uptake but did post a video with 16 seconds of action, via a camera situated at third man. The ICC have followed via their daily sponsored moments of the day post. And at the time of writing, Bangladesh Cricket are yet to mention the incident on their feed. One of their own.
It is not realistic to demand wall-to-wall coverage of this competition, but it would be fair say to say official outlets are taking their eyes off the ball. This is meant to be the final step on the ladder towards full international honours, yet it is being shoved away in the shadows, kept out of the way.
Of course, the sport's schedule in this age has meant the Under-19 World Cup has slipped behind the droves of top-tier international cricket and franchise competitions as an attractive proposition for broadcasters. Yet, there is a relative social media blackout from official outlets. That is indefensible.
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