At the risk of sounding reductive, those two words define India and Pakistan’s campaigns in the Under-19 World Cup

At the risk of sounding reductive, those two words define India and Pakistan’s campaigns in the Under-19 World Cup. India have been an automaton; unbeaten and unchallenged in the tournament. Pakistan opened their tournament with a loss to Afghanistan. Then they dismantled Ireland, and scratched three-wicket wins against Sri Lanka and South Africa.

In the semi-final, the two innings ran along the same themes. When India batted, there was a clear logic on display. They took singles — some of them risky — off the good balls. They threw their bats at width. They respected the in-form bowler. The batting could have been a flowchart, with decision boxes covering all eventualities: If not openers, No 3 to play anchor role. If middle order departs early, all-rounders to contribute. It might well have been one of Dravid’s well-planned match simulations, with steps clearly listed on a whiteboard. Pakistan provided the disorder; they dropped four catches in the field. Then in the second innings, they were bowled out for 69.