The visitors lost openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi (11) and Aaron George (5) early and then suffered a double blow when on 67. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Prolific India batter Harvansh Pangalia and R.S. Ambrish slammed fine half-centuries as they overcame a shaky start to defeat South Africa by 25 runs (DLS Method) in the opening Youth ODI in Benoni on Saturday (January 3, 2026).
India piled up a mammoth 301 in 50 overs with Pangalia slamming 93 (95 balls) and Ambrish hitting 65 off 79 deliveries after they were precariously placed at 67 for 4 in the 15th over.
The visitors lost openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi (11) and Aaron George (5) early and then suffered a double blow when on 67, losing both wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu (21) and Vedant Trivedi (21) cheaply in successive overs.
However, Pangalia and Ambrish went into overdrive thereafter, first consolidating the innings by playing cautiously and then dealing in big hits to craft a 137-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Pangalia hit seven fours and two sixes, while Ambrish slammed seven boundaries.
A quick-fire 32 (23 balls) by Kanishk Chouhan and a cameo 26 (12 balls) by Khilan Patel helped India U-19 achieve a sizeable total, though it could have even better had South Africa’s upcoming 17-year-old left-arm pacer JJ Basson (4/54) not struck at crucial junctures.
South Africa didn’t get the best of starts, losing three quick wickets with right-arm quick Deepesh Devendran (2/33) accounting for two of them as the hosts were in deep trouble at 62 for 3.
But Jorich Van Schalkwyk (60 not out off 72 balls) put South Africa back on track with some guarded batting.
However, lightning followed by thundershowers forced the players into the dressing rooms at 148 for 4 in 27.4 overs.
With the weather turning worse, the umpires decided to apply the DLS Method, where India were ahead by 25 runs.
Brief scores:
India U19: 301 all out in 50 overs (Harvansh Pangalia 93, RS Ambrish 65; JJ Basson 4/54) beat South Africa 148 for 4 in 27.4 overs (Jorich Van Schalkwyk 60 not out, Armaan Manack 46; Deepesh Devendran 2/33, Khilan Patel 1/14) by 25 runs under DLS Method.
Published – January 04, 2026 02:28 am IST
