Highlights: India edged past Australia in a tense run-chase by two wickets courtesy of Nikhil Kumar’s unbeaten fifty during day three of the first U19 Test in Chennai.
Australia resumed their second innings on day three at 110-4. Captain Soham Pathwardhan gave the hosts their first breakthrough in the morning, dismissing Christian Howe for 17. Thereafter, leg-spinner Mohammed Enaan was the star of the show, picking up the remaining four of five wickets, including opposition skipper Simon Budge (17). Having impressed in the preceding youth ODIs, Mohamed Enaan picked up 6-79 to skittle out Australia for 214 in 67.4 overs. The figures took Enaan's match tally to nine wickets. Aidan O Connor (35) and No.10 Hayden Schiller (23*) showed some resistance.
The target proved to be steeper than it looked as India slipped to 167-7 in pursuit of 212. O'Connor and first-innings hero Vishwa Ramkumar hunted in pairs to put the home side in a spot of bother. It was India U19 No.7 Nikhil Kumar, who took his team over the line with an unbeaten 71 off 55 balls. Nikhil’s innings was studded with three fours and four sixes.
Nitya Pandya's 86-ball 51 at No.3 also set the tone for the chasing side in a 71-run partnership with Karthikeya KP. However, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals, meaning Nikhil had to come to the rescue.
13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who scored a record 58-ball hundred on the second day, was the highest scorer between the two teams across the innings.
Watch India U19 edge past Australia U19 in a thrilling chase:
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