Captain Raichandani anchors India U-19 to series-clinching win

Captain Lakshya Raichandani smashed an unbeaten 110 as India U-19 defeated Australia U-19 by six wickets in Rajkot to complete a 3-0 Youth ODI series sweep. India chased 255 in 41.5 overs, with Rajat Baghel contributing an unbeaten 44

Rajkot: Captain Lakshya Raichandani struck an unbeaten 110 as India Under-19 registered a comfortable six-wicket victory over Australia Under-19 to clinch the three-match Youth ODI series 3-0 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium here on Wednesday.

Chasing 255, Raichandani anchored the innings with an unbeaten 110 off 106 balls, including nine fours and three sixes, as India reached the target in just 41.5 overs.

---

After failing to convert his starts in the opening two games, Raichandani displayed composure and control to steer the chase. He forged a 58-run opening partnership with Aaryavir Sehwag, who provided a brisk start before falling for 33 off 35 balls, including five boundaries, to Jacob Pietz.

V K Vineeth was dismissed cheaply, but Raichandani joined hands with Kushagra Ojha to add 85 runs for the third wicket and put India firmly in command.

Following Ojha’s departure, Rajat Baghel, who replaced Anvay Dravid in the playing XI, scored a quickfire unbeaten 44 off 34 balls, including five fours and two sixes, to accelerate the chase.

Earlier, opting to bat first on a favourable surface, Australia got off to a promising start with Zed Hollick top-scoring with a stroke-filled 87 off 88 balls, including 12 boundaries. Hollick added 62 runs for the second wicket with Neel Patel, who made 51 off 71 balls.

The partnership was broken when local debutant Aryan Savsani dismissed Hollick, triggering a collapse in the Australian middle order. Pacers Mohit Ulva and Manal Chauhan capitalised on the opening, picking up three wickets apiece as Australia lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 254 in 48.4 overs.

Having already secured the series in the previous fixture, India U-19 made tactical changes to their playing XI, with the revamped bowling attack restricting the visitors before Raichandani completed the emphatic victory.

The teams will now face each other in the first red-ball game in Rajkot from September 27.

Brief scores: Australia U-19 254 all out in 48.4 overs (Zed Hollick 87, Neel Patel 51; Mohit Ulva 3-42, Manal Chauhan 3-48) lost to India U-19 258/4 in 41.5 overs (Lakshya Raichandani 110 not out, Rajat Baghel 44 not out; Jacob Pietz 1-41) by six wickets.