Baloda’s six-for rips through Australia U-19 on Day 1 in Ahmedabad

Left-arm spinner Baloda put in a massive shift for India, taking centrestage with a six-wicket haul on the opening day at the Narendra Modi Stadium. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

Tanmay Baloda had a long, laborious day. The left-arm spinner bowled 25 overs, including 18 in his first spell. But it was all worth it when he leapt in joy after picking up a six-wicket haul on the opening day of the second multi-day Youth Test between India under-19 and Australia under-19 here at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday.

Baloda operated with precision, consistently bowling in the off-stump channel to finish with 6/32 and helped the hosts bowl out the visitors for 174. India u-19 ended the day 136 runs behind the total, but lost openers Lakshya Raichandani and Sagar Virk in the process.

A couple of wickets in the last 45 minutes of play brought Australia back into the game after Baloda had taken centre stage earlier.

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The 18-year-old broke three acts of resistance from the Australians. The first came when Neel Patel (31) and Eli Brain rebuilt the innings after pacers Priyanshu Singh and Mohit Ulva reduced Australia to 28 for two inside five overs.

Baloda came on and immediately trapped Brain in front. Patel danced down the track, only to miss the ball and let wicketkeeper Abhiprai Biswas complete the stumping. From the other end, Ayaan Akram had Blake Cattle poking, while Baloda had Zed Hollick caught behind.

After Australia lost four wickets inside five overs, Charlie Henderson (37) and Jacob Pietz (26) put up the second act of resistance. The duo, solid in defence, tested India’s patience in the second session, adding 70 runs off 242 balls.

With the wicket not doing much, Baloda and others held their lines to contain the scoring rate. Even when captain Yashbardhan Chauhan left a couple of big gaps vacant for Henderson and Pietz to target, they were happy not to take the bait and played the ball with the turn. The handful of family members of the young Australian cricketers appreciated and clapped for every run the batters put on the board.

However, right after Tea, Baloda broke through Pietz’ defence, and soon Akram had Henderson caught at first slip as India shifted the momentum again.

Australia fought back through Thomas Vaseo and Patrick Sullivan. Vaseo, batting at No.9, played 26 balls for 14 while No.10 Sullivan hit a six during his 31-ball 20-run knock. Baloda, though, did what he had done throughout the day – break the tailenders’ resistance, making his India u-19 debut one to remember.