India U-19 beat Australia U-19 by seven runs in the first Youth ODI in Rajkot on Friday. The game was shortened to 20 overs per side due to persistent rain. It was the Boys in Blue who batted first and posted 182 for six.

Former Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid’s son Anvay Dravid amassed 38 runs off 18 balls. The 17-year-old hit two boundaries and three sixes in his innings.

Dravid also added 69 runs for the fifth wicket with Yashbardhan Chauhan, who top-scored with 54 runs. His knock came off 34 balls with the help of five boundaries and two sixes.

Earlier in the day, Aaryavir Sehwag, son of the legendary Virender Sehwag, made 28 runs from 26 balls. Young

Sehwag hit Kasey Barton and Will Bryom for boundaries in the first two overs. He struck Thomas Vaseo for two fours and also smashed Spencer Green for a boundary.

His innings ended when Barton caught the batter to give Green his first wicket. Kushagra Ojha, the next man in, began with a four and then hit a six to get his innings going. Australia Under-19 struck twice when they dismissed skipper Lakshay Raichandani for 15 runs and Ojha for 16 runs.

Anvay replaced Arjun Rajput, who was dismissed for 15 runs off just eight balls. The Karnataka-born batter was sent back to the dugout by Eli Brain on the third ball of the 18th over.

Chauhan then gave the innings finishing touches as he smashed the Aussies to all parts of the ground to reach his fifty.

India U-19 hold their nerves to claim close win

Needing 11 runs off the final over, the visiting side saw Mohit Ulva concede just three runs in the final over. Charlie Henderson was run out for three runs on the fifth ball, while Chauhan caught Blake Cattle on the last ball.

Earlier, Neel Patel and Hayden Barbulovic added 58 runs for the first wicket in just 40 balls.

The opening duo went after the Indian bowlers and made full use of the powerplay overs.

Yashbardhan got rid of Hayden, who was stumped by Dravid for 40, which came off 24 balls. Patel was Chauhan’s second wicket of the match. Skipper Jack Czosnek managed 55 off 27 balls with six boundaries and three sixes. Once he fell, the remaining batters failed to complete the task as the Indian bowlers tightened their grip to win the game.