TheSportsCampus

< Prev		Next >

Australia has finished the Under-19 International Series against India on a positive note winning the final match, a three-day game at the WACA, by six wickets.

India took out the overall honours with a 3-2 win over the five matches, dominating the Hobart leg of the series, winning all three matches at the venue. Australia bounced back tremendously on a fast-bowler friendly Perth track to pick up a couple of late wins.

India Under-19 batted first on the opening day of the final three-day tour match, and were bowled out for 165. Australia's new-ball bowler Kane Richardson had figures of 5-28. For India, Ashok Menaria essayed a captain's hand of 51, but he had little support. The Australians then batted well to declare at 223-7. Tom Beaton top-scored with 70. Off-spinner Kundan Singh, who has had a memorable tour, was India's best bowler, with figures of 4-72.

The Indian batsmen then failed to impress for the second time in the game, and were dismissed for 184. Manan Sharma was the exception, with a fine 81.

Australia, needing only 127 to win, were 19-0 at the close of day 2 and looked set to record a thumping win.

However, Indian speedster Harshal Patel had other ideas on the final morning, snaring 3-32 before Australia eventually got the required runs thanks to Mitchell Marsh's 69 not out.

Australia Under-19 captain Marsh said he was pleased to finish the series with a couple of wins after finding conditions tough in Hobart.

"Coming over to Perth we knew we were 0-3 and we really wanted to get a win on the board and the boys came together well," 17-year-old Marsh said.

"The wicket was a lot bouncier and Kane Richardson bowled extremely well in the first innings of this match taking five wickets which was a great reward for him. He worked hard in Hobart but things just didn't quite go his way."

Australia found themselves in a little bit of trouble early at 4-40 but the team rallied, thanks to Marsh and South Australian Joel Garrett (25 not out) who put on 90 for the partnership closing out the match.

"When we were 4-40 we were in a bit of strife but Joel (Garrett) and I put on a good partnership and it got us over the line in the end," Marsh said.

"It's been a great tour for everyone and that's why we have these types of series so we can learn and adapt to different situations."

Kane Richardson was named Player of the Match for his spell in the first innings that reaped five wickets and helped put India on the back-foot from the outset.

"It definitely felt good to get a few wickets. It was good to get out there on the first day and walk out to the middle and see a bit of grass on the wicket and to bowl first up was great because our attack was really looking forward to bowling at the WACA," 18-year-old Richardson said.

"Hobart was a bit disappointing, not just for myself but for the whole bowling group - we didn't really execute what we wanted to - but as soon as we got over here and into training we really emphasized hitting our lengths and trying to make the batsman play.

"We tried to get them to play all the time or where ever possible and it paid off for us this game and personally I was really satisfied with how they came out so I'm very happy," the South Australian said.

India's Mayank Agarwal, a 17-year-old from Karnataka was named Player of the Series after a terrific tour that saw him compile 379 runs at an average of 75.8 in six innings. One hopes that the youngster will be able to take a lot away from this tour, and return sometime in the not too distant future with the senior team.

Australia coach Brian McFadyen said it was a learning experience for the players and he is positive they have gained plenty over the duration of the series. "It was a really impressive turn around from when we were in Hobart," McFadyen said. "To be honest, I don't think we really expected to come here and win two games and to win them convincingly was a very pleasing result.

"I was really very, very impressed with how our guys were able to talk about delivering plans, and one of those plans was using their feet to spinners, but more importantly, their courage to actually integrate that into their game, experiment with it and further develop those skills, learning from the experience."

Read more about this series here and here

If you have some photographs from the series, please share them with us.