Beckenham: The Indian U19 squad continued to assert their dominance over England on the third day of the four-day ‘Youth Test’ in Beckenham, reaching a commanding 128 for three in their second innings. This formidable performance has extended their overall lead to a significant 229 runs, placing them firmly in the driver’s seat.
The charge was led by the sensational Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who notched up a rapid half-century. His aggressive knock of 56 off just 44 balls provided the impetus for India’s strong start. At the close of play, Vihaan Malhotra (34) and Abhigyan Kundu (0) were at the crease, looking to further solidify India’s advantage.
Suryavanshi and skipper Ayush Mhatre set the tone early, forging a blistering 77-run opening partnership in just 12 overs. Their aggressive approach put the English bowlers under immense pressure. However, the partnership was eventually broken when Mhatre fell to the wily off-spinner Archie Vaughan, son of former England captain Michael Vaughan. Vaughan proved to be a thorn in India’s side, as he also accounted for Suryavanshi soon after the young Indian batsman reached his well-deserved fifty, finishing the day with impressive figures of 3 for 14 from 10 overs.
Earlier in the day, England U19, resuming from their overnight score of 230 for five, managed to put up a fighting total of 439 runs, reducing India’s first innings lead to 101 runs. Their late-order batsmen showed commendable resilience, with valuable contributions from Thomas Rew (34), Ekansh Singh (59), Ralphie Albert (50), Jack Home (44), and James Minto (20). Rew and Ekansh added a crucial 80 runs for the sixth wicket, pushing England closer to the 400-run mark. Home and Minto then further bolstered the innings with a 48-run stand for the ninth wicket, ensuring England crossed the 400-run milestone.
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