Mhatre 100 highlights India U19 domination as they finish on a very healthy score of 450/7 at end of Day 1.
India Under-19s rack up 450 after Mhatre 100, Kundu 90.
After reaching 450 for 7 at stumps on the first day of an unofficial Test match against the England Under-19s at Beckenham, the India Under-19s were leading.
Two outstanding partnerships dominated the day: Vihaan Malhotra and Ayush Mhatre put up 173 for the second wicket, with Malhotra hitting 67 and Mhatre cashing in after being dropped twice to make 102.
Then, in an even greater stand of 179 for the fifth, Abhigyan Kundu scored 90 and Rahul Kumar hit 85.
Jack Home, Archie Vaughan, and Alex Green each claimed two wickets, but England was left to lament four missed opportunities.
The fans was greatly disappointed when 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi was out for just 14 after India won the toss and decided to bat. At deep third, Ralphie Albert caught him as he flashed at Green after he had easily glided the morning’s opening delivery for four, lifting James Minto over the slip cordon.
Mhatre scored his hundred in spectacular fashion by sweeping down the wicket to the same bowler and blasting him for four overs long off, while Malhotra quickly glided to 50 after taking two from Vaughan.
Then, Vaughan had Singh beautifully catch Mhatre on the boundary. Singh almost hit Albert and held on with one hand as he hit the ground.
When Green produced a late away swinger that was caught behind, Malhotra went seven balls later. Maulyarajsinh Chavda was then edged to Flintoff at first slip by Vaughan, who took him for 11.
If England appeared to have recovered from three fast wickets, Kundu and Kumar restored India’s supremacy. At teatime, it was 289 for four as Kumar blasted to 50 off just 43 balls.
When Kundu hit Albert for four, he reached his half-century, but in the 67th over, Home got both set batters out. When he was ten runs short of three figures, Kundu cut him to Vaughan at point, and Kumar then edged him to the wicketkeeper, Tom Rew.
The run pace was significantly reduced as a result, and Albert then had Mohamed Enaan leg before wicket for 23. When Henil Patel edged him to second slip, Home should have taken the third wicket, but Flintoff was unable to retain a slip-high catch. The real Test-match vibe was further enhanced when Denly first put down RS Ambrish in the next over, thwarting Green’s hopes. Eight overs remained unbowled when the 6.30 pm cutoff was reached.