Chennai, Oct 2 (UNI) Half Centuries by No.3 Nitya Pandya and No.7 Nikhil Kumar, who remained unbeaten, helped India to a tense two wicket win over Australia in the first of the two Under-19 Youth Test series at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium here on Wednesday.
Set a tricky target of 212 to win, India lost wickets on either side of the third and sixth wicket partnerships, before romping home by two wickets on the third day winning with a day to spare. India scored 214 for 8 in 61.1 overs.
The second and final begins here on October 7.
With India having gained a narrow three run first innings lead and picking up four Australian wickets in the second essay, the match was intriguingly poised when the proceedings began on the third morning, with the pitch providing encough assistance for the tweakers of both the teams, who consistently troubled the batsmen.
Earlier, resuming at 110 for four in 39 overs, Australia were bowled out fo 214 in 67.4 overs, setting a target of 212 in a 59 overs on the third day and a full fourth and final day remaining.
Except lower order batsman, Aidam O’Connor, who emerged as the second top scorer with a breezy 35 in 38 balls (3×4, 2×6) and an unbeaten 23 by No.10 Hayden Schiller (32 balls, 4×4), which gave the Australia innings some respectability, rest of the batsmen departed in quick succession as the Indian spinners dominated the proceedings.
Left arm spinner Mohamed Enaan did most of the damage ad returned with a six wicket haul to take his match tally to nine wickets. Off-spinner Soham Patwardhan chipped in with three wickets.
Set a tricky target, India started on a bad note losing both the openers and were reduced to 25 for two in 8.1 overs. First innings heroes–centurion Vaibhav Suryavanshi lasted a mere three balls, while other opener Vihaan Malhotra scored just 11 runs.
However, Nitya Pandya struck a purple patch scoring a crafty half century (51, 86 balls, 3×4) and anchored the chase with a 71 run third wicket stand in 17 overs with K P Karthikeya (35, 52 balls, 5×4) to provide the much needed momentum.
Once both of them fell in a span of six overs, India slid from 96 for two in 25 overs to 113 for five in 32.2 overs, setting the stage for an interesting battle between the bat and the ball.
After a brief resistance by Abhigyan Kundu (23, 52 balls, 2×4) and his 49-run partnership for the sixth wicket in 14.4 overs with Nikhil Kumar raised India’s hopes, before two quick wickets in five runs threw the spanner in the chase, as the contest became more intense and intriguing with the home team in a spot of bother at 167 for 7 in 51.5 overs.
But Nikhil Kumar showed tremendous application and in the company of No.9 batsman Samrath Nagaraj (19, 34 balls 2×4, 1×6) inched towards the target.
A flurry of boundaries and sixers eased the pressure as the duo added a crucial 43 runs for the eighth wicket in 8.4 overs and Nikhil in the process scored his half century (55, 71 balls, 3×4, 4×6) and remained unbeaten till the end as India trooped out with heads high.
When Samrath was trapped by medium pacer Adian O’Connor, who picked up four wickets, India needed just two runs and fittingly Nikhil hit the winning runs much to the joy and relief in the Indian camp.
Leggie Vishwa Ramkumar too played his part bagging three wickets to apply the brakes on Indian chase.
Brief Scores :
Australia : 293 and 214 all out in 67.4 overs (Riley Kingsell 48, Oliver Peake 32, Aidan O’Connor 35, Hayden Schiller 23 not out, Mohamed Enaan 6 for 79, Soham Patwardhan 3 for 27) vs India 296 and 214 for 8 in 61.1 overs (Nitya Pandya 51, K P Karthikeya 35, Abhigyan Kundu 23, Nikhil Kumar 55 not out, Samrath Nagaraj 19, Aidan O’Connor 4 for 27, Vishwa Ramkumar 3 for 75).
