Atharwa Taide (113) and Ayush Badoni (107) slammed individual centuries to put India U-19 team in driver’s seat on the second day of the four-day first Youth Test at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground at Colombo on Wednesday.
After dismissing Sri Lanka U-19 for 244, India U-19 side reached 473/5 in their first innings at stumps. Resuming India U-19’s innings at 92/1, opener Taide hit a deserving hundred, amassing 113 runs in 160 balls with the help of 13 boundaries.
He provided stability to the Indian innings, adding crucial runs with D Padikkal (25) and Pawan Shah (38) for the second and third wicket as India U-19 team crossed the 250-mark.
After he was dismissed in the 64th over and YV Rathod (34) was removed in the 71st over, Nehal Wadhera (81) and Badoni (107) shared an unconquered partnership of 183 runs to put India U-19 in a strong position.
The duo threw caution to the wind and took the bowlers to the cleaners at will. Wadhera slammed nine fours and three sixes in his 117-ball innings, while Badoni had 11 hits to the fence, twice clearing the ropes during a strokeful 115-ball innings. India are scheduled to play two Youth Test matches and five ODIs.
The second Youth Test begins on July 24 in Hambantota while the ODIs begin from July 30 in Colombo and will be played till August 10.
Brief Score:
Sri Lanka U-19 244 trail India U-19 473/5 (Atharwa Taide 113, Ayush Badoni 107; EKV Perera 2/98).