India Under-19s lost the first one-day of the five-match series by 23 runs to England Under-19s at the Wankhede Stadium. Needing 257 runs to win, opener Himanshu Rana compiled a watchful century even as wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end. India were 59 runs short of the target when the batsman’s 101-ball knock was ended by Henry Brookes.
Speaking to BCCI.TV later, Rana said, “Batting wasn’t difficult here. It was about adapting to the situation but we weren’t able to do that and so we lost the game.”
India lost Prithvi Shaw to Matt Fisher with 32 runs on the board, but Shubhman Gill joined Rana in taking the innings forward. Batting at a steady pace, the pair had added 46 runs for the second wicket when the England captain accounted for the No 3 bat. And 10 runs later, Abhishek Sharma departed taking the aerial route of the pacer with India on 88 for three. Delray Rawlins, who had earlier set up the game with a century then tipped the balance in England’s favour. 15 runs later he trapped Salman Khan and Mayank Rawat lbw in an over to reduce the hosts to 103 for five.
“We had the upper-hand early in the chase but we lost three – four wickets in a cluster that is when I guess we lost the advantage. We needed to focus on the singles but the dot balls that we played built up pressure and wickets fell,” Rana explained.
The opener forged a valuable partnership with Het Patel. The duo added 35 runs to the tally until the wicket-keeper batsman, who was scoring at a brisk pace handed a catch to mid-wicket off Fisher and returned to the pavilion.
Rana then joined forces with Kamlesh Nagarkoti in an effort to close in on the target. The opener brought up his century with a single towards mid-on. They added 60 runs for the seventh wicket until the opener was done in by a short-pitched delivery by Henry Brookes and departed for 101.
Speaking about his partnerships and his knock, Rana said, “Kamlesh (Nagarkoti) can bat well so we focused on taking singles. Playing first-class cricket has helped me learn to plan the innings. I am disappointed with my performance, I was set and, so I should have finished the game and come next time, I will try to do better, finish the game and then return.”
With 59 runs required Rahul Chahar joined Nagarkoti but was sent back by Holden 11 runs later. While Brookes followed up with the wicket of Nagarkoti, the bowler claimed Yash Thakur to bowl India out for 233.
Earlier, Nagarkoti and Vivekanand Tiwari got the home team off to a good start after electing to bowl first.
While Max Holden and E Woods nicked Nagarkoti to the wicketkeeper, George Bartlett was caught in the slips off Tiwari with England on 13 for three. Ollie Pope then joined Brook in stabilizing the innings with a 85-run stand until he was trapped lbw by Chahar. Mayank Rawat then castled the opener with England on 106 for five and Abhishek followed up with the wicket of Tom Banton as the visitors were struggling at 126 for six in the 32nd over.
Rawlins then found and able ally in skipper Fisher and the duo forged a solid stand to set India a stiff target. The pair batted diligently and added 116 runs for the seventh wicket until Abhishek struck again. The spinner accounted for his opposite number in the penultimate over. However, by then the partnership had taken England to a comfortable 242 runs. Remaining unbeaten on 107, Rawlins helped his side to 256 for seven.
Disappointed that he couldn’t take the team across the line, Rana who had pointed to his black arm-band upon completing his century said, “That was for Rajesh Sawant, (India U-19 trainer who had passed away on January 29) sir since it was a tough day for us yesterday. He was a very good person and we enjoyed training with him. It was a sad thing to have happened. To lose someone like that hurts. We wanted to play and win the match for him.”
