Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan’s 122 secures 2-0 series lead for India U-19 against Australia

Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan scored 122 off 100 balls as India Under-19 defeated Australia Under-19 by 102 runs at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Monday to clinch an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Youth ODI series. He had been named Player-of-the-Match in the series opener after an all-round display and followed that with this century.

India elected to bat on a flat deck and capitalised early, with Aaryavir Sehwag setting the tone by opening his innings with a boundary and finishing on 47. Sehwag and V.K. Vineeth combined for a 55-run second-wicket stand before a mix-up ended Sehwag’s innings; Vineeth went on to make 87 (92b, 4x4, 6x6).

Yashbardhan, initially cautious, accelerated as his innings progressed and played predominantly through the ‘V’ to find gaps across the field. His 100-ball 122 (15x4, 2x6) formed the backbone of India’s total of 341 for seven in 50 overs.

Australia’s chase began poorly as Mohit Ulva and C. Venkata reduced the visitors to 29 for two. A fourth-wicket partnership between Jack Czosnek and Blake Cattle revived the reply, Czosnek scoring 81 (63b, 7x4, 4x6) while Cattle made 44, adding 99 together.

After that stand was broken, Australia’s resistance diminished and they were bowled out for 239 in 41.1 overs. The match figures read: India U-19 341/7 in 50 overs (Aaryavir 47, Vineeth 87, Yashbardhan 122, Thomas Vaseo 3/78) beat Australia U-19 239 in 41.1 overs (Matthew Lough 42, Czosnek 81, Cattle 44, C. Venkata 3/64); Toss: India U-19.

The victory secured an unassailable 2-0 lead for India in the three-match Youth ODI series.