India Under-19 vs Australia Under-19 Tri-Nation Tournament 2013

India continued their recent run of form against the Australian U19 team with a 47-run win in the Under 19 International Series at Marrara Oval in Darwin today.

India’s bowlers got the best of Australia’s U19 batsmen, sparking a dramatic collapse late in the day. Australia appeared on track to reach India’s total of 221, before losing six wickets for 19 runs and finishing all out for 174. (Also Read: India Under-19 vs Papua New Guinea Under-19 Tri-Nation Tournament 2013)

Ben McDermott batted well for his half-century, but the remainder of Australia’s young line-up were restricted from capitalising on their starts due to India’s impressive bowling. Kuldeep Yadav led the way with figures of 3/19.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and elected to bowl on what looked to be a variable wicket. India’s openers proved up to the task, looking ominous early and untroubled by Darwin’s sub-continental-like conditions.

Wickets were hard to come by for the Aussies, but their perseverance was rewarded following Matthew Kelly’s dismal of top-scorer and Player of the Match Ankush Bains (64 from 100 balls) in the 39th over.

For the second match in a row, Australia’s bowlers built the pressure and bowled well at the death, taking seven wickets in the last 10 overs to dismiss India for 221 all out.

Cam Valente (3/39) and Gabe Bell (3/34) were the pick of the Aussie bowlers, with Kelly (2/45) and Matt Fotia (2/46) also sharing in the spoils.

Speaking after the match, Australian U19 batsman Ben McDermott said his team was disappointed with their first loss of the series.

“We batted really well in our first game on this wicket when we scored 226 and thought we could chase India’s score down. We thought it was very gettable but it got away from us and we were a bit below par where we need to be with the bat today.

“Their spinners bowled really well and varied their pace, but given it was a second-day wicket and it was really hot, it was the right choice to bowl first. There’s a lot for us to take out of this game, and on other day we can have a red-hot crack and try and get a win back against India,” he said.

India are the reigning U19 ICC Cricket World Cup champions after beating out Australia in the final last year in August in Townsville.

In today’s other U19 International Series match, New Zealand beat Papua New Guinea by 133 runs at Tracy Village in Darwin.

Big scores to Ken McClure (78) and Alec Hodgson (71) saw NZ to 9/259, though PNG’s Kabua Morea (4/44) impressed with the ball. In reply, PNG were all out for 126.

Round 3 of the U19 International Series will get underway on Thursday, 4 July. New Zealand will play India at Marrara Oval, while Australia will take on Papua New Guinea in a friendly match at Gardens Oval in Darwin.

Brief scores: India U-19 221 all-out in 49.3 overs (Bains 64, Zol 46; Bell 34/3, Valente 39/3) beat Australia U-19 174 all-out in 47.1 overs (McDermott 50; Kuldeep Yadav 19/3)

Player of the Match: Ankush Bains for his 64-run knock