2nd youth test: Batters help India U-19 make strong start

Nitya Pandya led India U-19’s charge with a fluent 94 as the hosts finished at 316/5 on the opening day of their second youth Test against Australia here on Monday. Pandya was among the four half-centurions for India on the day.

The right-handed Pandya cracked 12 fours to make 94 off 135 balls before falling to Harry Hoekstra (2/29), who delivered an early blow to India with the dismissal of Vaibhav Suryavanshi (3).

Vihaan Malhotra could only manage a four in his score of 10 off as many as 75 balls as Australia seemed to have controlled the initial stages of the game, but Pandya led India’s fightback and the hosts finished at a strong position at stumps.

India No. 3 Pandya found ample support in KP Karthikeya as the duo put on 112 runs for the third wicket. Karthikeya made 71 off 99 balls with nine fours and a six.

Both Pandya and Karthikeya fell in a space of four overs, which did leave India in a spot of bother at 185/4, but a 105-run association between captain Soham Patwardhan and Nikhil Kumar helped them consolidate.

Nikhil was the more aggressive as he hit seven fours in his 61 off 93 balls before being dismissed. Patwardhan, who hit six fours, was holding fort with an unbeaten 61 off 120 balls with wicketkeeper-batter Harvansh Pangalia on 7. India lead the series 1-0 having won the first game by two wickets.

Brief scores: India U-19: 316/5 in 90 overs (Pandya 94, Karthikeya 71, Patwardhan 61*, Nikhil 61; Hoekstra 2/29) vs Australia U-19.