Hove [UK], June 28: India’s 14-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi produced a blistering knock to guide the India Under-19 team to a six-wicket win over England in the first match of the five-game Youth ODI series at the County Ground on Friday.
Opening the innings, Suryavanshi smashed a sensational 48 runs off just 19 balls, peppered with five sixes and three fours at an extraordinary strike rate of 252.63. His whirlwind innings included a 71-run opening partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre, who contributed 21 runs off 30 balls, before Mhatre fell in the eighth over to AM French.
Chasing a modest target of 175, the Indian team comfortably reached 178/4 in just 24 overs. Besides Suryavanshi, Abhigyan Kundu played a key role, scoring an unbeaten 45 off 34 deliveries with four boundaries and a six to seal the victory.
For the English side, AM French was the standout bowler, picking up two wickets for 46 runs in six overs. Jack Home (1/50) and Ralphie Albert (1/25) chipped in with a wicket each.
Earlier, England U19 were bowled out for 174 in 42.2 overs, despite a fighting 56-run knock by Rocky Flintoff and a quick 42 from Issac Mohammed. India’s bowling attack was led by Kanishk Chouhan, who claimed 3/20 in his economical 10-over spell, which included a maiden. Henil Patel (2/41), RS Ambrish (2/24), and Mohamed Enan (2/37) shared six wickets between them to dismantle the English batting lineup.
With this win, India U19 take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Brief Scores:
England U19: 174 all out in 42.2 overs (Rocky Flintoff 56, Issac Mohammed 42; Kanishk Chouhan 3/20)
India U19: 178/4 in 24 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 48, Abhigyan Kundu 45*; AM French 2/46)