England U19 get consolation victory against India U19s as seamers restrict free-flowing India before top-order knock off target.
Mayes seals chase as England U19 land consolation victory.
The England U19s had a thrilling seven-wicket victory at Visit Worcestershire New Road to round off their Youth ODI series against India.
The tourists won the series 3-2, but England earned the victory in the last match after a superb bowling performance held India’s formidable batting lineup to 210 for nine. All six bowlers took wickets thanks to a great team effort, although Ralphie Albert (two for 24) and Alex French (two for 37) stood out. The only player to surpass 40 was RS Ambrish (66 not out from 81 balls).
Then, with 113 balls remaining, England easily reached 211 for three. After Ben Dawkins (66, 53) set the stage with his third consecutive sixties score, Ben Mayes (82 not out, 76 balls) and Thomas Rew (49 not out, 37) saw his team home at a canter.
Following India’s decision to bat, French and Matt Firbank each scored in their opening over as England’s redesigned seam attack got off to a fantastic start. Before French took the crucial wicket of Vihaan Malhotra, Ayush Mhatre’s fruitless series came to an end with a reckless flick to mid-on off Firbank. Malhotra, who scored a brilliant century in the previous match, nicked a fantastic delivery to wicketkeeper Rew.
This time, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, who scored 322 runs off 162 balls in the series’ opening four games, lacked fluency. Prior to slicing Sebastian Morgan to deep third on 33 from 42, he was well-contained despite hitting Firbank for consecutive sixes.
Alex Green, a seamer for Leicestershire, kept up the pressure and was rewarded when Dawkins caught Rahul Kumar well on the long-leg rope. Albert quickly defeated the dangerous Harvansh Pangalia (24, 37) lbw, sweeping, as England started to spin.
Ambrish was left to make sure the innings filled its 50 overs after Albert added the wicket of Kanishk Chouhan, who was deftly stumped by Rew after being coaxed down the wicket. He accomplished this by skilfully shepherding the tail for a half-century.
Joe Moores’ bottom-edged pluck at Deepesh Davendra to wicketkeeper Pangalia gave England’s reply a head start, but Dawkins and Mayes’ 107-run partnership in 13 overs put a dent in the chase. Dawkins batted with more and more force until he hoisted Naman Pushpak to long-on, where Chauhan made a superb sprinting catch, as he attempted his fourth six.
India had a chance when Pushpak hit a ball through Rocky Flintoff’s gate, but skipper Rew arrived at the crease with the equation still heavily in England’s favor—90 needed from 31 overs. Rew finished the game with a barrage of boundaries against a faltering attack in an uninterrupted stand of 90 from 73 balls, while Mayes achieved his half-century from 48 balls and remained strong to unfold a flawless performance.