Rishabh Pant, Rahul Batham guide India U-19 to third victory

Brief Score:India U-19 261 all-out in 50 overs (Rishabh Pant 71(68), Himanshu Rana 50(71), Mason Crane 3/51) beat England U-19 241 all-out in 49.3 overs (George Bartlett 70(80), Dan Lawrence 55(51), Rahul Batham 3/24, Mayank Dagar 3/27)

After winning the toss, India’s captain for the day Rishabh Pant opted to bat first and the captain along with Himanshu Rana notched up a hundred-run partnership for the opening wicket. Rana departed after completing his fifty with India at 113/1 in 21 overs. Ricky Bhui joined Pant next; however, the captain soon followed his opening partner back to the dressing room falling for a well-made 71 off 68 balls.

The middle-order suffered a collapse in the last 25 overs as India stuttered to a total to 261 in the allotted 50 overs. Mason Crane’s three-wicket haul and two wickets from Dan Lawrence and Sam Curran broke India’s hopes of a huge score as they got bowled out in the last ball of the innings.

Chasing a target of 262, England got off to a brisk start with Dan Lawrence and Ryan Davies taking the team past fifty in the first eight overs. Mayank Dagar gave India the first break through by sending back Ryan Davies for seven. England went two down soon after with Dan Lawrence falling to a run-out after a quick fire fifty. Wickets at regular intervals kept hampering England’s chase with Rahul Batham and Washington Sundar adding wickets to their tally. The chase finally ended 21 runs away from a victory as Mayank Dagar finished off the tail to register India’s third consecutive victory of the tournament.

With the final place secured, India will take on hosts Sri Lanka in their final group game on December 17 at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo.