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Vaibhav Suryavanshi wreaked havoc with the bat as India Under-19 team hammered England Under-19 side by six wickets in their first Youth One Day International (ODI) on Friday, June 27. Vaibhav Suryavanshi-Ayush Mhatre's batting exploits combined with a disciplined bowling effort, led India to dashing win.
The Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by the spin duo of Kanishk Chouhan, who took 3 wickets for 20 runs, and Mohamed Enaan, who claimed 2 wickets for 37 runs, put up a commendable performance. They were well supported by seam bowlers RS Ambrish and Henil Patel, both of whom picked up 2 wickets for 24 and 41 runs respectively. This collective effort resulted in England being bowled out for a modest 174 runs in 42.2 overs, despite a resilient half-century from Rocky Flintoff, who scored 56 runs off 90 balls.
Chasing the target of 175 runs, India got off to a blistering start thanks to Suryavanshi and Mhatre. The opening pair raced to 70 runs without losing a wicket in just seven overs. Although they were dismissed, vice-captain Abhigyan Kundu ensured India's victory with a solid unbeaten innings of 45 runs off 34 balls, which included 4 boundaries and a six. India reached the target in just 24 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Following the conclusion of the ODI series, two Youth Test matches are scheduled to begin on July 12.
Wearing the iconic No. 18 jersey, 14-year-old Suryavanshi, who had dazzled in IPL 2025 with 252 runs in seven matches for Rajasthan Royals, including a record-breaking 35-ball century against Gujarat Titans, was in scintillating form. He unleashed a ferocious assault, smashing three sixes off Jack Home in the sixth over and then tearing into James Minto to race to 48 runs off just 18 balls. However, his explosive knock, which was studded with five sixes and three fours, came to an abrupt end on the next delivery when he top-edged a slog sweep off left-arm spinner Ralphie Albert, with Tazeem Chaudry Ali taking the catch.
Following Suryavanshi’s dismissal, India’s skipper Mhatre, who had scored 240 runs for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, including a 48-ball 84 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, took charge. He shifted gears seamlessly, striking back-to-back boundaries off AM French. However, the Mumbai batter’s innings was cut short soon after when he was caught by Rocky while attempting to clear extra cover. India’s innings briefly faltered as they lost both openers within a span of eight runs, followed by Maulyarajsinh Chavda, who scored 16, falling to French in the 13th over. Despite the wobble, with no pressure from the scoreboard, the visitors regained their composure clinched the issue without breaking a sweat.
England’s innings started with a blistering performance from opener Isaac Mohammed, who launched a ferocious attack, scoring 42 runs off 28 balls with three fours and four sixes, setting the stage for a potentially large total. However, the momentum shifted when Patel dismissed BJ Dawkins, who scored 18, and Enaan removed Isaac just shy of his half-century. This sparked a collapse, as England’s batting lost its early spark.
The hosts slumped from a promising 76/1 to a precarious 86/4, with Ambrish striking twice in quick succession to remove Ben Mayes, who made 16, and skipper Thomas Rew, who managed only 5. Rocky, the youngest son of Andrew Flintoff, anchored the innings with a determined fifty, hitting three fours and three sixes while attempting to rebuild alongside the lower order. Despite his efforts, wickets continued to fall around him. Chouhan’s disciplined bowling spell accounted for Joseph Moores, Ralphie Albert, and James Minto, while Enaan returned to dismiss Ali. Flintoff’s resilient knock eventually ended when he fell to Patel while trying to accelerate, bringing England’s innings to a close in the 43rd over.
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