Ayush Mhatre's Spark Amid a Tough Fight for India U19
The second Youth Test between India U19 and England U19 at Chelmsford had its moments of tension, top performances, and missed chances. The match saw Ayush Mhatre making headlines for his impressive century, standing out in a contest otherwise dominated by England's clinical approach.
England U19 opened strongly, racking up 324 runs for the loss of just five wickets before declaring. Their batting lineup looked controlled and measured, giving them a solid base to dictate play. India U19, tasked with chasing down this formidable total, relied heavily on Ayush Mhatre. He stood tall, delivering a classic hundred under pressure when the rest of the Indian top order faltered. India scraped their way to 279 before being bowled out, still trailing by 45 runs at that point. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who had entered the game with hopes of turning things around, could not find his rhythm—his struggles with form continued and left India short of vital runs.
England Tighten the Screws; Draw Ensures Unfinished Business
The match was far from over with just the first innings completed. England came out in their second essay determined to extend their lead and avoid any last-day surprises. Their top order again provided stability, and by the time they declared at 324 for 5, they’d set India a target that was both challenging and, realistically, out of reach with the time left. For India, it was again a mountain to climb.
Day 3 gave a glimmer of hope to India’s fans as Vihaan Malhotra notched up a gutsy 120, showing skill and patience at the crease. His effort balanced the game somewhat, but the deficit was still too large. England, sitting on a comfortable 123-run lead at stumps after reaching 93 without loss in the second dig, didn’t let India in with any real shot at a win. The match ended as a draw, but with England clearly on top as the numbers suggest.
This Test offered sparks of brilliance from young Indian talent, especially Mhatre and Malhotra, but also highlighted gaps—especially among players like Suryavanshi who struggled for form. England, on the other hand, used home conditions well and managed the game smartly. Both sides take lessons forward, but the momentum is surely with the English youth squad after Chelmsford.
