Ekansh Singh scores ton to lead Eng U19 out of trouble No. 7 continues lower-order fightback on rain-shortened day.
On the second day of England’s Youth Test match versus India, which was badly cut short by weather, Ekansh Singh scored an incredible hundred.
Even though there were only 28-and-a-half overs that could be played between the cloudbursts, Kent right-hander Singh managed to score 117 runs, which included three sixes and fourteen fours. After sharing an eighth-wicket partnership of precisely 100 with James Minto, who scored 46, Singh was the last out as England’s youths reached 309.
When a downpour interrupted play just after 5 p.m., Naman Pushpak finished with 4 for 76 for India, which had lost teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi for 20 in reaching 51 for 1.
The start was postponed until 12.30 pm due to overnight and morning rain, and the players were forced to leave again when the showers returned 22 minutes later. Ekansh had ample time in the interim to entertain the scattered audience to four bounds, including two opulent cover drives.
Despite Minto’s excellent support, he lost the ball after an uppercut over the slips for six, requiring the third change of the cherry during the brief afternoon session.
The 100-stand was raised before Minto chipped one straight back to Pushpak after which the end came swiftly. Prior to Singh skulking around the long-on boundary, Pushpak claimed the fourth victim, Alex Green.
With Suryavanshi and his captain Ayush Mhatre playing nearly a shot a ball, India’s response got off to a fast start. The unfortunate bowler, Alex French, top-edged one over the slips before being spilt at cover by Ralphie Albert, who then gave him a life.
By casually driving Green over mid-off for six and then slashing one backward of square for another maximum, Suryavanshi took a serious toll on Green in the meantime. He pulled Green’s next delivery down the throat of a fine leg, though, out of youthful impetuosity. This was a waste, especially considering that the rain returned three balls later and an early tea was required.