Chauhan, Vineeth power India U-19 to series-clinching win over Australia

Yashbardhan Chauhan's 122 and VK Vineeth's 87 helped India U-19 post 341/7 before bowling Australia out for 238 to win the second Youth ODI by 103 runs. India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series

Rajkot: Yashbardhan Chauhan’s 122 and VK Vineeth’s 87 shaped India’s massive 103-run victory over Australia in the second Youth ODI as the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match U-19 series here on Monday.

Riding on Chauhan’s ton, Vineeth’s half-century and vital contributions from Aaryavir Sehwag (47) and Kushagra Ojha (34), India U-19 posted a huge first-innings total of 341 for seven at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.

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In reply, the visitors were shot out for 238 in 41.1 overs.

India had won the rain-truncated opening Youth ODI, which was reduced to a 20-overs-per-side affair, by seven runs.

The third and final Youth ODI will be played here on Wednesday before the two teams face off in a two-match series of four-day Youth Tests here.

With a massive total on the board, India used as many as seven different bowling options to keep Australia under pressure. Chigurupati Venkata was the pick of the bowlers with 3/64, while Kavya Patel and Chauhan claimed two wickets each.

Mohit Ulva, Manal Chauhan and Yashveer Goud also took one wicket apiece.

India were off to a sparkling start, largely due to Sehwag’s stroke-filled knock, in which the right-handed batter missed out on a personal milestone. Having put on 46 runs for the opening wicket with skipper Lakshya Raichandani (11), Sehwag added another 55 runs for the second wicket with Vineeth before being run out.

But it was a forgettable outing for Anvay Dravid, who had smacked a valuable 18-ball 38 in the first match. The wicketkeeper-batter fell for a mere nine in a bid to up the scoring rate late in the Indian innings.

Chauhan and Vineeth’s knocks provided India with the foundation for a big total, as the two put on 132 runs for the third wicket. Chauhan was the more belligerent of the two, smacking 15 fours and two sixes to make 122 off 100 balls, while Vineeth cracked six sixes and four boundaries in his 87 off 92 balls.

Towards the end, Kushagra Ojha chipped in with a 20-ball 34, including five fours and a six, as India posted a massive total.

Thomas Vaseo claimed 3/78, while Patrick Sullivan took 2/55 and Connor Gregory returned 1/57.

In their reply, Australia U-19 were rocked early by Ulva and Venkata, who took a wicket each. Even as Matthew Lough (42), skipper Jack Czosnek (81 off 63 balls) and Blake Cattle tried to rebuild their innings, the target proved beyond the visitors.

India kept striking at regular intervals to bundle the visitors out for 238 and win with more than eight overs to spare.

Brief Scores:

India U-19: 341/7 in 50 overs (VK Vineeth 87, Yashbardhan Chauhan 122; Thomas Vaseo 3/78)

Australia U-19: 238 in 41.1 overs (Jack Czosnek 81; Chigurupati Venkata 3/64).