The Indian U-19 cricket team showcased their mettle in a thrilling third Youth ODI, securing a seven-run victory over Australia and completing a clean sweep of the series on Thursday. The young Indians had already clinched the first two ODIs by comfortable margins of seven and nine wickets respectively.
India’s batting performance in the third match laid the foundation for their victory. Opening batsman Rudra Patel and skipper Mohamed Amaan both notched half-centuries, contributing 77 and 71 runs respectively. Hardik Raj and Chetan Sharma provided valuable contributions from the lower order, propelling India to a formidable total of 324 for 8.
Australia, in response, started their chase with intent, displaying strong batting form. Skipper Oliver Peake and Steven Hogan combined for a crucial 180-run partnership for the third wicket, both reaching centuries in the process. However, India’s bowlers, especially spinners Hardik Raj and Kiran Chormale, displayed remarkable resilience, effectively slowing down the run rate in the crucial death overs.
Raj, a slow left-arm orthodox spinner, and Chormale, an off-spinner, combined for five wickets between them. They broke the crucial third-wicket partnership, removing both Peake and Hogan in quick succession, and also dismissed wicketkeeper Alex Lee Young. This mini-collapse shifted the momentum back in favor of India, as they managed to choke the run flow towards the end.
Although Aidan O’ Connor played a late cameo, scoring a quick 35 runs, Bengal fast bowler Yudhajit Guha bowled a tight final over to prevent Australia from reaching the winning target. In the end, the Australians fell seven runs short, ending their innings at 317 for 7.
This series win is a testament to the talent and potential of the Indian U-19 team, as they prepare for future challenges on the international stage. Their impressive performance against a strong Australian team serves as a promising indicator of their future success.
