Northampton, July 01 (Sports Desk)
In a nail-biting encounter at the County Ground, Northampton, England Under-19, led by captain Thomas Rew’s explosive 131, clinched a dramatic one-wicket victory over India Under-19 in the second Youth ODI, leveling the five-match series at 1-1. Chasing a formidable 291, England overcame a late collapse to secure the win with three balls to spare, thanks to a composed finish by Sebastian Morgan and Alex French. This match, part of India U19’s tour of England, showcased high-intensity cricket and marked England’s comeback after a six-wicket loss in the first ODI at Hove.
Match Overview
- Date: June 30, 2025
- Venue: County Ground, Northampton
- Toss: England U19 won the toss and elected to bowl
- Result: England U19 won by 1 wicket
- Player of the Match: Thomas Rew (131 off 89 balls)
- Brief Scores:
- India U19: 290 all out in 49 overs (Vihaan Malhotra 49, Vaibhav Suryavanshi 45, Rahul Kumar 47, Kanishk Chouhan 45; AM French 4/71, Jack Home 3/63, Alex Green 3/50)
- England U19: 291/9 in 49.3 overs (Thomas Rew 131, Rocky Flintoff 39; RS Ambrish 4/80)
- Live Streaming: Available on the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) YouTube channel
India U19 Innings
India, asked to bat first, posted a competitive 290 in 49 overs despite an early setback. Captain Ayush Mhatre was dismissed for a duck on the first ball by Alex French. However, the middle order rallied with significant contributions:
- Key Performances:
- Vihaan Malhotra (49 off 51 balls) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (45 off 34 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) forged a 69-run stand for the second wicket, providing a brisk start.
- Rahul Kumar (47) and Kanishk Chouhan (45) kept the momentum going, with Abhigyan Kundu adding 32.
- England’s Bowling:
- AM French led the attack with 4/71, dismissing Mhatre, Suryavanshi, and two lower-order batsters.
- Jack Home (3/63) and Alex Green (3/50) each claimed three wickets, but England’s bowlers struggled with discipline, conceding 32 extras, including 26 wides.
- Challenges: India lost half their side by the 32nd over with Kundu’s dismissal. Despite four batters crossing 40, none converted into a half-century, preventing a larger total.
England U19 Innings
Chasing 291, England’s innings began shakily but was revived by a masterful century from Thomas Rew, who broke the record for the fastest century by an England U19 player, reaching three figures in 73 balls, surpassing Ben Foakes’ 79-ball ton against New Zealand in 2012.
- Key Performances:
- Thomas Rew: Scored 131 off 89 balls (16 fours, 6 sixes), anchoring the chase with a 123-run partnership with Rocky Flintoff (39 off 65 balls) for the fourth wicket.
- Sebastian Morgan (20 not out) and Alex French (3 not out) held their nerve in the final over, with Morgan hitting a crucial boundary off Yudhajit Guha to seal the win.
- Early Struggles:
- England lost opener Ben Dawkins (7) in the second over, followed by Ben Mayes (27) and Isaac Mohammed (11), leaving them at 47/3 in the 12th over.
- Rew and Flintoff rebuilt with a 123-run stand, but Rew’s dismissal in the 40th over by Henil Patel triggered a collapse, reducing England to 254/8 by the 46th over.
- Dramatic Finish:
- Needing 20 runs off the last three overs with two wickets in hand, England faced intense pressure. Alex Green (12) fell on the first ball of the 49th over to RS Ambrish (4/80), leaving 7 runs required off the final over.
- Morgan’s boundary off the third ball of Guha’s last over secured the victory with three balls to spare.
- India’s Bowling:
- RS Ambrish was the standout bowler with 4/80, dismissing Mayes, Mohammed, and two others.
- Henil Patel and Yudhajit Guha took one wicket each, but India couldn’t capitalize on the late collapse.
Strategic Insights
- England’s Approach: Rew’s aggressive batting, with 16 fours and 6 sixes, shifted momentum, while Morgan’s composure under pressure proved decisive. England’s bowlers, despite leaking extras, restricted India to under 300, a target they chased with calculated aggression.
- India’s Challenges: The inability to convert starts into big scores and early loss of Mhatre hurt India’s chances of posting a daunting total. Their bowlers fought back, but the lack of wickets in the middle overs allowed Rew to dominate.
- Captain’s Comments: Thomas Rew described the win as one of the best games he’s played, emphasizing the team’s belief after the first ODI loss. “To beat India after losing the first ODI is a big achievement for us,” he said.
Squads
India U19
- Captain: Ayush Mhatre
- Key Players: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra, Rahul Kumar, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), RS Ambrish, Henil Patel, Yudhajit Guha
- Full Squad: Ayush Mhatre (c), Abhigyan Kundu (vc & wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra, Maulyarajsinh Chavda, Rahul Kumar, RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Yudhajit Guha, Pranav Raghavendra, Mohammed Enaan, Anmoljeet Singh, Aditya Rana
- Notable: Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old IPL sensation with Rajasthan Royals, continued his aggressive form after scoring 48 in the first ODI.
England U19
- Captain: Thomas Rew
- Key Players: Thomas Rew, Rocky Flintoff, Sebastian Morgan, Alex French, Ben Mayes, Isaac Mohammed
- Full Squad: Thomas Rew (c), Ralphie Albert, Ben Dawkins, Jaydn Denly, Rocky Flintoff, Alex French, Alex Green, Jack Home, James Isbell, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Isaac Mohammed, Joseph Moores, Seb Morgan, Alex Wade
- Notable: Rew’s century and Morgan’s clutch performance highlighted England’s depth.
Series Context
- Series Status: The five-match series is now level at 1-1 after India’s six-wicket victory in the first ODI at Hove on June 27, 2025, where Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s 48 off 19 balls set the tone.
- Upcoming Matches:
- 3rd Youth ODI: July 2, 2025, Northampton (3:30 PM IST)
- 4th Youth ODI: July 5, 2025, Worcester
- 5th Youth ODI: July 7, 2025, Worcester
- Significance: The series serves as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of future international tournaments, with India U19 aiming to build on their strong tour start and England U19 gaining confidence from this thrilling win.
Fan Sentiment
Posts on X reflected excitement over England’s dramatic victory, with fans praising Thomas Rew’s record-breaking century and the team’s resilience. The win sparked discussions about England U19’s potential to dominate the series, while Indian fans lauded their team’s fightback despite the loss.
watch…….Vaibhav Suryavanshi: delivering an explosive debut performance in Youth ODI Series
Conclusion
England U19’s one-wicket triumph, driven by Thomas Rew’s sensational 131 and Sebastian Morgan’s calm finish, marked a high point in the 2025 Youth ODI series. India U19’s competitive total and spirited bowling effort kept the match alive until the final over, but England’s determination prevailed. With the series tied at 1-1, the stage is set for an intense battle in the upcoming matches. Fans can follow live updates on the ECB YouTube channel or track scores on ESPNcricinfo, News18, and Wisden.
