Gill leads charge as India U-19 beat England

MUMBAI: Chasing a modest 216 for victory in the third One-dayer against England U-19 at the CCI on Friday, India U-19 needed their top order to put up a disciplined batting display. And, opener Shubman Gill gave a good account of himself, staying unbeaten on 138 as the hosts romped home by seven wickets. The Punjab batsman struck 17 boundaries and two sixes during his 157-ball essay.
Be it hitting three boundaries in the very first over of the chase, capitalising on loose deliveries, or getting into a tussle with an opponent, Gill did it all in the match.
Coach Rahul Dravid made six changes to the playing XI as part of his rotation policy, but thankfully for him, he did not bench Gill. The 17-year-old is the only player to have been a part of all three games of the series so far, and the English bowlers struggled to find a way past him. Gill’s late cuts that went down to third man and even got him a couple of boundaries were timed to perfection.
Even as India had lost three wickets for 101 by the middle of the 22nd over, Gill kept his cool, didn’t try anything fancy, and was just content punishing the loose balls. When he reached his century, running a couple after directing the ball to backward point, he didn’t really celebrate. He just walked up to Harvik Desai at the other end, spoke brieflywith him, raised his bat, and went back to scoring boundaries!
In the 37th over, when England pacer Jack Blatherwick nudged him while he was running between the wickets, Gill didn’t retaliate. He just went up to the umpire and narrated what happened. Soon after, he let his bat do the talking, hitting a towering six past deep point.
Gill’s 115-run partnership with Desai (37*) is what took the team through. The latter too did a commendable job. Coming off an excellent 75 in the second One-dayer, Desai let Gill take centrestage this time around, rotating the strike magnificently.
Earlier, England were bowled out for 215 after electing to bat. Spinners Rahul Chahar (4/33) and Anukul Roy (3/39) were the most impressive bowlers on show. England found themselves in trouble early on after losing both their openers — Max Holden (8) and Harry Brook (12) — with only 38 on the board.
Thereafter, Delray Rawlins (96), who had struck a century in the first match, and George Bartlett (55) bailed the team out with an 84-run partnership for the third wicket. Bartlett, who hit six boundaries and a six, was stumped off Chahar’s delivery. Rawlins looked in good touch until he went for a reverse-sweep, and was caught at short third-man. After that, there was no stopping the Indian colts.