U19 Challenger Trophy: India Blue Defeat India Green by 4 Wickets

Mumbai: Riding on half centuries by opener Himashu Rana, N Rathva and M S Bhadange, India Blue comfortably defeated India Green by four wickets in an ODI match as part of the U19 Challenger Men’s Trophy.

Put into bat at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) ground, India Blue bundled out India Green for a modest 235 in 49.4 overs, with Rathva and Tyagi each picking up three wickets.

While Rathva returned with impressive figures of 3-50, Tyagi’s figures were 3-45. Pacer A S Thakare (2-37) and Shivam Mavi (1-30), who was also in the team which played against the England U-19 earlier this year, also wreaked havoc on the opposition batsmen and aided both Tyagi and Rathva.

For the India Green, only Abhishek Sharma made a quick fire 89 off 87 balls by making opposition bowlers toil. But he failed to get support from the other end as wickets kept falling at regular intervals.

Sharma laced 10 fours and two towering sixes in his knock, before being caught by A Varun Goud off Tyagi.

Wicket-keeper H Desai chipped in a valuable 40 off 52 balls, to help his side go beyond the 175-run-mark. Chasing 235, opener Himashu Rana struck 69 in 77 balls, hitting 10 shots to the fence.

He, along with his opening partner Manjot Karla (27), conjured a 69-run opening wicket stand for the first wicket.

India Blue lost four wickets in quick succession and at a stage were staring at a defeat at 142-5, but then Rathva (55 not out) and Bhadange (54) ensured that the team was back in contention.

Bhandange returned to the pavilion with the team just needing 10 runs to win. Rathva then took the side home in company of Shivam Mavi.

For the India Green, Pankaj Yadav (3-39) was the pick of the bowlers.

In the other game of the day at the Cricket Club of India (CCI), Sri Lanka Board President’s XI defeated India Red by four wickets.

Opting to bat, India Red were skittled out for a paltry 226, with skipper Ayan Siriwardena (4-34) and Hareen Buddila (4-30) wreaking havoc on the India Red batsmen.

For India Red, 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw, who just notched up a blazing 50 yesterday in a Ranji game, top scored with 63 off 44 balls, hitting 11 fours and two sixes.

Half centuries by Riyan Parag (50) and Kamlesh Nagarkoti (51) aided the side to go beyond the 200-run-mark.

But the Sri Lankan side chased the target with 12 balls to spare.

One down, Santhush Gunatileke starred in their win as he made 80 in 122 balls and was well supported by Nipun Dananjaya (43) and Nuwaindu Fernando (34 not out), as the trio ensured that their side crossed the line to register their first win of the tournament.

On Thursday, India Green will lock horns with India Red at the CCI, while India Blue will take on the Sri Lankan team at the BKC ground.

The selectors are expected to choose players for the Indian U-19 ODI team for the World Cup from the tournament for the the next year’s U19 World Cup beginning in January in New Zealand.