Seventeen-year-old opener Lakshya Raichandani scored an unbeaten knock of 210 runs off 256 balls to give India Under-19 a commanding 213-run first innings lead over Australia Under-19 on the second day of the first Youth Test. The match took place at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on September 28.
India were 430 for eight after 92 overs at stumps in their first innings after dismissing Australia for 217. Raichandani’s marathon innings included 20 fours and 4 sixes.
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Australia were dismissed for 217 in 86.5 overs on the first day and India were 8 for no loss on the second day. Australia’s fast bowler Kasey Barton bowled out opener Sagar Virk for 11 and leg-spinner Spencer Green bowled out Kushagra Ojha for 13. By the 14th over, these two quick wickets had reduced India to 46 runs for two wickets.
Raichandani then joined Indian skipper Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan to steady the batting effort. The two batsmen scored an important 124-run partnership for the third wicket. Raichandani set a brisk pace from the start and reached his half century in just 69 deliveries. Chauhan scored only 14 runs off 40 balls before changing gears to hit 54 runs off 81 balls. Finally, Barton broke the partnership when he dismissed Chauhan.
Australia left-arm spinner Connor Gregory then got Ayaan Akram for 26 off 36 balls and Ishan Om for seven off 16 balls in quick succession. Pranav Ragavendra was injured and Akram entered into the playing eleven in his place. Akram added 51 for the seventh wicket with Raichandani before his dismissal. India lost four wickets in a 16-over period but Raichandani secured the team’s position.
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Mohit Ulva joined Raichandani at the crease with India struggling at 293 for eight. Ulva struck five boundaries and four sixes in his brisk 56-ball innings to reach 58 not out before the close of play.
At the other end, Raichandani reached his double century with a four just short of the stumps. Australia tried seven different bowling options throughout the day but no bowler could breach the defence of the Indian opener. Raichandani carried his good white-ball form into the longer format. He had earlier scored a match-winning 110 not out off 106 balls in India’s six-wicket win in the third Youth One-Day International against Australia earlier this month.
Barton finished as Australia’s best bowler on the day, taking three wickets for 65 runs. Gregory also took two wickets for 87 runs.
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Australia Under-19 won the toss and chose to bat. The visiting team lost all ten wickets for 217 runs. Blake Cattle scored 102 runs off 198 balls with 14 boundaries. Opener Jed Hollick contributed 59 runs off 160 balls, while Eli Brain remained unbeaten on 25 runs.
Indian left-arm spinner Ishan Om played an impressive spell. He took five wickets for 53 runs in 24.5 overs. Mohit Ulva took three wickets for 37 runs. Captain Yashbardhan Chauhan also claimed two wickets dismissing the Australian batting lineup.
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