With an unbeaten 138-run knock, Shubman Gill anchored India Under-19 to a seven-wicket win in the third game of the five-match one-day series. Earlier, while England U19s looked set for a competitive total with Delray Rawlins (96) at the helm, Indian spinners Rahul Chahar (four-for) and Anukul Roy (three wickets) ran through the line-up and bowled England out for 215.
Speaking toBCCI.TV, Gill said, “At one stage it looked like they would score 270-280 but then our spinners got in and they bowled beautifully.”
After England elected to bat, medium pacers – Yash Thakur and Heramb Parab - claimed Max Holden and Harry Brook with the visitors on 38 for two. But Rawlins, who has been in good form then joined Geroge Bartlett in milking the Indian attack to lay a solid foundation. The pair had added 84 runs for the third wicket when Chahar had the No 3 bat stumped.
Speaking about India’s plans to restrict the opposition, Roy said, “The outfield here is fast. So we had focused on getting wickets which would then put them under pressure. But then they got set in the middle and they made runs and then the leg-spinner (Chahar) got us a break and we did the rest.”
Ollie Pope who had partnered Rawlins in taking the innings forward in a 49-run stand was the next to be sent back. The left-arm spinner had dealt a double blow with the team on 171. He accounted for Will Jacks a ball later to push the opposition back. The batsman departed handing a catch to silly mid-on. Speaking about his plans, the left-arm spinner said, “My plan was to stop the flow of runs from one end and keep the new batsman on strike as much as possible. Initially I was bowling slower but when I saw that they are playing on the back-foot I bowled one arm ball and the wicketkeeper (Pope) got out.”
Having slowed England down, Roy got out the dangerman Rawlins who was looking to up the ante. Trying to reverse-sweep, he was caught towards short third man by Jamwal. Speaking about his approach to Rawlins, he said, “I was bowling outside the off stump to Rawlins because he is good at playing the shots when the ball comes on. Although it was difficult to score, he continued to step out and score so I changed and came around the wicket and got the wicket.”
After the spinners had bowled England out with an over to spare, Gill, opening the batting, got India off to a flying start. He smacked Aaron Beard for three boundaries to collect 12 runs off the first over. He impressed with some crisp boundaries through the off-side.
With Himanshu Rana, who was leading the hosts in the game at the other end, the batsman helped India past the 50-run mark in the sixth over. However, India lost three wickets in quick succession that slowed the team down. Rawlins drew an edge from the skipper to the wicketkeeper. Priyam Garg followed him back to the dressing room and Laim White trapped Salman Khan lbw with India on 101 for three.
However, Gill changed the pace and played patiently to shape the innings. “I got a good start but then we lost three wickets. I capitalised on my inning and I took time after that. Since it was not a very big total to chase I didn’t try to play too many big shots,” he said.
He found and able ally partner in Harvik Desai who had played a crucial knock to set up Indian victory in the second match. The duo played determinedly to take the side across the line. Without taking any risks the pair stitched a 115-run unbroken stand to help India take a 2-1 lead in the ongoing series.
Reflecting on his knock, Gill said, “I took a few throw-downs before going in which helped get in the flow. Then I concentrated on the singles. Going in to open, I had told myself if I got a start I will make it a big one.”
Going by the advice given by the India U19 coach Rahul Dravid to not get carried away with the flow, Gill said it helped him shape the win. “I calmed myself and told myself that if I bat till the end I will get the team through. It’s about the mindset. The important thing was to not get carried away.”
