Kushagra Ojha struck a maiden century as India Under-19 recovered from a horror start to reach 314 for 4 against Sri Lanka Under-19 on the second day of the 2nd Youth Test in Colombo. Ojha made 111 off 193 balls before being run out, anchoring an innings that had begun with the tourists losing both openers without a run on the board.
Sri Lanka Under-19 had chosen to field first at the R Premadasa Stadium, and the decision looked justified inside the first six overs. Sethmika Seneviratne removed Lakshya Raichandani for a duck, and Gimhan Mendis followed up by dismissing Sagar Virk cheaply, leaving India Under-19 at 0 for 2. Ojha and captain Yashbardhan Chauhan then came together and steadied the innings with a 122-run stand for the third wicket.
Ojha and Yashbardhan Rebuild the Innings
Yashbardhan was the quicker scorer of the two, reaching a run-a-ball fifty and going on to score 78 off 89 balls, an innings that included 11 fours and two sixes. Ojha played the more patient role at the other end, taking 101 balls to reach his own half-century. Mendis eventually ended the partnership by dismissing Yashbardhan, but by then the platform for a big total had already been built.
Manal Chauhan joined Ojha next, and the pair added a further 155 runs for the fourth wicket, pushing India Under-19 well past the 250-run mark. Ojha brought up his century during this stand, converting his patient start into a substantial score before he was run out by Dulnith Sigera in the 72nd over. Manal continued unbeaten and went on to make 101 himself, remaining not out as India Under-19 closed on 314 for 4 after 82 overs, at a run rate of 3.82.
Bowling Figures Reflect Disciplined Sri Lanka Attack
Sri Lanka Under-19’s bowlers kept things tight for large periods despite conceding a big total. Mendis finished with 2 for 64 from 18 overs, while Seneviratne picked up the other wicket to fall, conceding 59 runs in his 18 overs. Sigera, Viran Chamuditha, Kavija Gamage and Vigneshwaran Akash shared the remaining overs without success, with Akash the most economical among them at 3.06 runs per over across 15 overs.
The extras column also grew through the innings, with India Under-19 picking up 19 additional runs, including five no-balls and eight byes, as Sri Lanka Under-19 struggled to maintain full control despite the early breakthroughs.
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India Under-19 Hold the Advantage Heading Into Day Three
With six wickets still in hand and a batting line-up that includes Aryan Sakpa, currently unbeaten on 5, India Under-19 are firmly in control of the match. The lower order, featuring Chigurupati Venkata, Jeganathan Hemchudeshan, Kavya Paresh Patel, Pranav Ragavendra and Rohit Yadav, is yet to come to the crease.
The match, the 311th Youth Test overall, is being played across four days from July 20 to 23 at the R Premadasa Stadium. Deepal Gunawardene and Sanjeewa Fernando are standing as the on-field umpires, with Rajith Massalage serving as the reserve official and Ravi Punchihewa as match referee.
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