India U19 settled for a draw in the second unofficial Test against England U19 at Chelmsford on Wednesday. But in the process 18-year-old Ayush Mhatre set an amazing record of being just the second batter after Brendon McCullum, New Zealand legend and current coach of England, to hammer over 200 runs in a Youth Test with a strike-rate of over 100.
Mhatre's strike-rate, however, read better than the Kiwi legend, who had achieved the feat in a Youth Test against South Africa back in 2001.
Mhatre's individual score in both innings totalled to 206 off 170 balls at a strike-rate of 121.17. McCullum, on the other hand, had smoked 186(172) in the first innings and 46 unbeaten off 42 balls in the second while leading New Zealand's U-19 unit. His combined total was 232 off 214 balls, which came at a strike rate of 108.41.
Sudden collapse halts momentum
Mhatre hammered 126 off 80 balls in the second innings and got India close to a win while chasing 355 until a collapse halted the momentum. Mhatre's knock was laced with 13 fours and 6 sixes before he got out to Ralphie Albert, who scalped four wickets in the innings.
It all started after India lost star opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a golden duck. Mhatre, Suryavanshi's opening partner, was then involved in two over 100 runs stand with Vihaan Malhotra and Abhigyan Kundu. Malhotra and Mhatre combined to add 100 runs for the second wicket, with the former getting out for 27(40) against Albert.
Mhatre continued his show with Kundu and added 117 runs for the next wicket until Albert once again dented India's hopes, this time getting the big wicket of the centurion.
India at that time were batting on 217/3 but what followed next was a sudden collapse. Albert got rid of Kundu for 65(46) and India were soon reduced to 232/5 before eventually finishing at 290/6.
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