An impressive all-round performance from Yashasvi Jaiswal inspired India U19 to a commanding eight-wicket victory over the SA U19s in the second Youth One-Day International in East London on Saturday.
The win gives the visiting side an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, which forms part of the teams’ preparations for the 2020 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup to be hosted by South Africa.
Jaiswal led the charge with the ball, taking four wickets to help dismiss the SA U19s for an under-par 119 before getting his team over the line with a swashbuckling, unbeaten 89 off 56 balls.
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Under overcast skies at Buffalo Park Stadium, India won the toss and put South Africa in to bat. The home side looked to bounce back from a disappointing result in the first Youth ODI and in a similar fashion to the first match, South Africa made a solid start at the crease.
The top order, including Andrew Louw (24), Jonathan Bird (24) and Luke Beaufort (12) played some promising strokes to help get the home side to 71-2 before the combination of poor shot selection and outstanding spin bowling from the Indians led to a middle-order capitulation.
The talented Indian spinners – Atharva Ankolekar (2-16), Ravi Bishnoi (2-20) and Jaiswal – shared the bulk of the wickets, removing eight South Africa batsmen for just 48 runs. Jaiswal picked up the last four wickets of the innings at the expense of 13 runs in his 3.5 overs to skittle the SA U19s out for 119.
Fast bowler Akash Singh was the other wicket-taker for the tourists, finishing with figures of 2-37.
Despite two early wickets from Merrick Brett (1-20) and the returning Mondli Khumalo (1-33), who last appeared for the side in July 2018, Jaiswal showed his prowess with the bat as he went on to dominate the SA U19 bowlers.
The left-hander, who also celebrated his 18th birthday, dispatched 14 fours and three sixes on his way to an imposing half-century before Dhruv Jurel, who came in at four, finished off the contest, hitting a run-a-ball 26* (3 fours, 1 six) as India clinched the series victory with a match and 33.4 overs to spare.
The third and final Youth ODI will get under way at 10am on Monday, 30 December at Buffalo Park Stadium.
Photo: Gallo Images
