NEW DELHI: Despite another solid knock of 45 runs from opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, India fell agonizingly short as England edged a dramatic one-wicket victory in the second Youth ODI at Hove on Monday, levelling the five-match series 1-1. India had entered the match on a high after their commanding win in the opener, where Suryavanshi top-scored with 48. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The young right-hander continued his fine form, scoring a composed 45 to help India recover from a disastrous start after skipper Ayush Mhatre was dismissed for a golden duck.Watch: Alongside Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra (49), Rahul Kumar (47), Kanishk Chouhan (45), and Abhigyan Kundu (32) all chipped in with useful contributions, guiding India to a competitive total of 290 in 49 overs. England’s bowlers were far from disciplined, leaking 32 extras, including a staggering 26 wides. Still, AM French led the way with 4 for 71, while Jack Home (3/63) and Alex Green (3/50) shared the rest of the spoils. The chase, however, proved to be a rollercoaster. England stumbled early at 7 for 1 and later 47 for 3, with medium pacer RS Ambrish striking twice in quick succession.
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But a magnificent counterattack from England captain Thomas Rew, who hammered 131 off just 89 balls (16 fours, 6 sixes), turned the tide. His 123-run stand with Rocky Flintoff (39) laid the foundation, but once Rew fell in the 40th over, the match swung back toward India. With England reduced to 254 for 8 by the 46th over, Ambrish (4/80) reignited hopes for India. England needed seven off the final over, and with only one wicket in hand, the game hung on a knife’s edge. But Sebastian Morgan (20 not out) held his nerve, striking a boundary off the third ball of Yudhajit Guha’s over to seal a heart-stopping win. Though India were left to rue missed chances, Suryavanshi’s consistency at the top continues to be a bright spot. As the series heads into the third match, India will look to regroup and lean on their in-form opener to regain the lead.
