Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the young batting sensation, announced his arrival on the international stage with a breathtaking display of power hitting in the first Youth ODI between India U19 and England U19. The match, held at the County Ground in Hove on Friday, saw Suryavanshi's whirlwind knock of 48 off just 19 balls propel India to a comfortable victory.
The 14-year-old opener showcased his fearless approach by smashing five towering sixes and three boundaries, setting an aggressive tone for India's successful run chase.
India U19 were chasing a target of 175. Suryavanshi, in partnership with captain Ayush Mhatre, provided a blistering start, accumulating 71 runs in a mere 7.3 overs. His explosive innings was cut short just two runs shy of a well-deserved half-century when he was caught by Tazeem Chaudry Ali off Ralphie Albert in the eighth over. Mhatre soon followed, departing for 21 off 30 deliveries.
Despite the quick fall of wickets, the target proved to be insufficient for the England U19 team. India U19 secured a dominant six-wicket victory with a remarkable 156 balls remaining. Wicketkeeper-batter Abhigyan Kundu sealed the win in style, hitting a six in the 24th over to finish unbeaten on 45 off 34 balls.
Earlier in the day, England U19 elected to bat first but were bundled out for 174 in 42.2 overs. Rocky Flintoff, son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, was the top scorer for the hosts, displaying resilience with a composed 56 off 90 balls, including three sixes and three fours.
However, the Indian bowlers proved too strong for the English batting lineup. Kanishk Chouhan spearheaded the attack with an impressive spell of 3 for 20 in his allotted 10 overs. Mohamed Enaan (2/37), RS Ambrish (2/24), and Henil Patel (2/41) provided valuable support, each claiming two wickets to dismantle the England batting order.
Prior to the tour, Suryavanshi expressed his excitement about the opportunity to play in England, stating, "I will get a good experience of playing in England. We will try to win a trophy from there as well.”
If his sensational debut is any indication, Vaibhav Suryavanshi possesses the potential to become the next big star in Indian cricket.
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