Chauhan, Anvay Dravid shine as India Under-19s clinch thriller

Anvay Dravid and Aaryavir Sehwag played like each other's fathers in the first of three Youth ODIs between India and Australia in Rajkot. The biggest contribution to India Under-19s victory though came from allrounder Yashbardhan Chauhan who scored a fifty and picked up two wickets in a rain-hit game.

The sons of former India players Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag were in action on Friday. Anvay made 38 off 18 coming in to bat at No. 6 with two fours and three sixes and a strike rate of 211.11. Aaryavir opened the innings just like his dad used to and was dismissed for 28 off 26 balls with five fours.

India, having been asked to bat first in a game that was reduced to 20-overs-a-side, finished with 182 for 6. Chauhan made 54 off 34 with five fours and two sixes and took part in a 69-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Anvay that helped the team recover from a position of 88 for 4 in the 12th over. Offspinner Eli Brain was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 29 from his four overs.

Australia responded to the chase in fine fashion with three of their top four batters scoring 40 or more with captain Jack Czosnek taking the game deep with an innings of 55 off 27 balls with six fours and three sixes. With 24 to get off 11 balls, he went 4, 4, 4 - the second boundary took him to a 25-ball fifty - before falling next ball. Australia were left with 11 to get in the final over, and right-arm seamer Mohit Ulva conceded just three runs to seal victory for the Indians. Chauhan accounted for two of Australia's top scorers, the offspinner dismissing Hayden Barbulovic for 40 off 24 and Neel Patel for 45 off 21.