Rew and Ekansh steer the ship for under-par Eng U19s after India’s flying start seen openers rolled for ducks.
Rew and Ekansh battle back for England after India’s flying start.
After falling to 46 for four on the first day of their second Youth Test match against India due to rain, England rallied behind half-centuries from captain Thomas Rew and Ekansh Singh.
The home team laboured until an extended evening session, when they scampered ahead to reach 229 for seven after losing openers Ben Dawkins and Adam Thomas for ducks in bowler-friendly conditions at Chelmsford.
Before Somerset’s Rew, who was leading a reorganised team in place of Hamza Sheikh, smashed 59 and shared a sixth-wicket partnership of 90 with Kent all-rounder Singh, who was still undefeated at 66 at stumps, Ben Mayes started England’s comeback.
As the tourists accelerated their plodding over-rate, India seamers Aditya Rawat and RS Ambrish each took two wickets, while spinner Naman Pushpak claimed two more in the closing session.
India chose to give their seamers the first crack under the floodlights, which was not surprising given the start being delayed by early showers and a dark grey cover of clouds hanging over the stadium.
With Rawat’s opening delivery of the game pinning Dawkins leg before and Thomas only surviving one more ball before falling to Henil Patel in the same manner, that decision was swiftly validated.
Malhotra made another slip catch to finish Sawant’s gutsy effort of 20, but Mayes took the fight to India’s bowlers, starting his innings with a booming square cut for four off Rawat.
Mayes advanced to 31 after tea by pulling and driving with strength, but he died while chasing a stray ball from Ambrish after he and Rew had set the stage for an England comeback with their 34-run combination.
While Singh arrived at the celebration in style by sweeping Kanishk Chauhan for six and combining power with some wristy strokeplay, the England captain went for leg-spinner Pushpak, who cost him 20 runs in his first two overs.
Rew was caught at slip off the googly by Pushpak, who returned for a second spell to exact retribution. However, Singh reached 50 from 53 balls and, with the support of James Minto (18 not out) and Ralphie Albert (16), put England within striking distance of a respectable score.