India’s bowler Anmoljeet celebrates the wicket of Australia’s batter Lachlan Ranaldo during the third day of the 2nd Test cricket match between India U-19 and Australia U-19, at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

In a battle between two teenagers playing for their country, one scored a superb century but ended up on the losing side, while the other spun his team to victory with his first-ever five-for.

Australia U-19’s captain Oliver Peake and India’s Anmolpreet Singh have been standout performers for their respective teams. Both players shared their thoughts on the match with the media afterward.

“We were trying to bat for as long as we could. The pitch progressively got worse, the bounce was very low, and it was getting very difficult to bat, but their spinners were too good today. In the second innings, we didn’t adapt well quick enough, maybe playing 135 overs earlier, we were fatigued, probably that’s the reason for the collapse,” said Peake on the loss.

“It’s the hardest innings I’ve played and one of my proudest moments until this point, I am happy. My dad just asked me to enjoy and get around the culture and try and adapt to these conditions,” said a happy Australia U-19 skipper.

“Firstly it rained in the morning. Then looking at the way the wicket was behaving, we felt we could bowl them out. Bowling in tandem with Enaan also helped. We were helping each other. We didn’t want to do anything extra and just bowl in the right areas and they’ll get out automatically.”

“This is my debut and getting a five-wicket haul is a great feeling I just tried, that’s all.”

“I’m from Shimlapuri in Ludhiana, I practice at the Garewal Sports Academy, and I train under Harbhajan Kala, he has put in a lot of effort for me. He has worked hard on me. Even my family’s support has been immense,” expressed Anmoljeet on the win and his journey.

India’s bowler Anmoljeet celebrates the wicket of Australia’s batter Steve Hogan during the third day of the 2nd Test cricket match between India U-19 and Australia U-19, at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. Anmoljeet took 9 wickets in the match; 4 in Australia’s 1st innings and 5 in 2nd innings.
| Photo Credit: PTI

In what can be best described as a riveting day of cricket, where rain stopped play for 50 minutes, an opposing captain scored a sensational century, two India spinners bowled out Australia, Twice, as the India U-19 team thrashed Australia U-19 by an innings and 120 runs on day three of the second Youth ‘Test’ at the M.A. Chidambaram here on Wednesday.

Resuming the day at 142 for three, Oliver Peake (117, 199b, 16×4, 1×6) started aggressively smashing leg-spinner Mohamed Enaan for a boundary straight down the ground and pacer Chetan Sharma for three fours before rain halted play.

Once play resumed, he drove and cut in front of the wicket and behind the wicket as he led Australia’s fightback before he reached a well-deserved hundred.

Off-spinner Anmoljeet provided India the breakthrough when he dismissed Alex Lee Young (66, 141b, 9×4) breaking the 166-run fourth-wicket partnership.

Christian Howe walked back to a superb direct hit from K.P. Karthikeya stationed at mid-off as Australia lost half its side at the stroke of lunch.

Anmoljeet sent back Peake immediately after the break who was looking to go ariel only to find a leaping Nikhil at covers as Samarth peppered Aidan O’Connor with short deliveries before he had him caught at slip.

Ollie Patterson became Anmoljeet’s fourth scalp as Enaan picked up Lachlan Ranaldo and Vishwa Ramkumar as Australia was bowled out for 277 in its first innings.

On a turning and uneven surface, India rightly enforced the follow-on as Enaan sent back Riley Kingsell and Anmoljeet quickly dismissed Simon Budge and Peake leaving Australia in trouble at 41 for three.

Between overs 11 to 24 it was a procession. Australia was reduced to 68 for eight. First Alex gifted his wicket to a brilliant direct hit at the non-strikers’ end. Anmoljeet dismissed Howe and Enaan had Aidan stumped.

Patterson did not last long and Hogan’s resistance came to an end when Anmoljeet rattled both their stumps. Chetan got Vishwa bowled to a delivery that kept low as Anmoljeet picked up Ranaldo for his fifth victim as India romped home in style.

The scores: Ind U-19 492 bt Aus U-19 277 in 80.2 overs (Oliver Peake 117, Alex Lee Young 66, Mohamed Enaan 4/60, Anmoljeet 4/72) & f/o 95 in 31.3 overs (Mohamed Enaan 3/37, Anmoljeet 5/32).