The England U19 eighth-wicket stand held on for 11.1 overs to save the first ‘Test’ against India U19, at Beckenham.
Having secured a 101-run first-innings lead, India U19 were bowled out for 248 on the final day of the first “Test”, at the Kent County Cricket Ground, as Archie Vaughan returned 6-84 in an unchanged 25-over spell. Vaibhav Suryavanshi had smashed a 44-ball 56; Vihaan Malhotra 63; and RS Ambrish 53. That left England U19 to chase 350 in 63 overs.
England U19 secure draw vs India at Beckenham
England became 62-3 in response before captain Hamza Shaikh (112 in 140 balls) put on 119 with Ben Mayes (51). With 169 to score in 136 balls, Thomas Rew played his shots from the onset in tune with the asking rate.
By the time Anmoljeet Singh ran out Shaikh, the pair had added 62 in 37 balls. Four balls later, captain Ayush Mhatre ran out new batter Ekansh Singh. Both batters had been attempting second runs. The hosts’ chances of a win more or less disappeared when Vihaan Malhotra snared Rew for a 35-ball 50.
India had 79 balls to take the last three wickets, but Ralphie Albert and Jack Home batted out time. The captains shook hands with England on 270-7.
1st Youth Test, England Under-19 vs India Under-19
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- Ball by ball Over
The visitors had made 540 in the first innings. Mhatre hit a 115-ball 102, Malhotra 67, vice-captain Abhigyan Kundu 90 in 95 balls, and Ambrish 70 as Alex Green got 3-74 and Albert 3-95. In response, England were bowled out for 439 as Shaikh (84), Flintoff (93), Ekansh (59), and Albert (50) all made half-centuries and Henil Patel claimed 3-81.
The second “Test” of the two-match series will begin on July 20 at Chelmsford.
