IND vs SA U19: Vaibhav Suryavanshi leads India to 25-run DLS victory against South Africa in rain-hit first Youth ODI
India started their Youth ODI series against South Africa on a positive note, registering a 25-run victory via the DLS method in the first match played in Benoni on Saturday. The game saw multiple interruptions due to weather, but India held their nerve to seal the win.
Chasing a revised target of 301 runs, South Africa were four wickets down when rain forced play to stop during the second innings. With the hosts behind the DLS par score at that stage, the visitors were declared winners.
India recover after early collapse to post 300
After winning the toss, South Africa captain Muhammed Bulbulia opted to bowl first, and his decision paid early dividends. India lost both openers cheaply as Aaron George (5) and Vaibhav Suryavanshi (11) were dismissed inside the powerplay.
South Africa’s bowlers kept the pressure on, with JJ Basson leading the attack. Basson picked up four wickets, helping bowl India out for exactly 300 runs in 50 overs. Vedant Trivedi (21) and Abhigyan Kundu (21) tried to stabilise the innings but failed to convert their starts.
Pangalia and Ambrish lead India’s fightback
India’s innings was revived by a crucial partnership between Harvansh Pangalia and R.S. Ambrish. Pangalia played a composed knock of 93 runs, falling just short of a well-deserved century, while Ambrish added a solid 65 runs.
Their partnership pulled India out of trouble and laid the foundation for a competitive total. Kanishk Chouhan (32) also chipped in with valuable runs towards the end.
A brief lightning delay caused an unusual stoppage late in the first innings, but no overs were reduced.
Devendran strikes early as bowlers stay disciplined
South Africa’s chase never fully settled. India’s bowlers struck early, with Devendran making an immediate impact by removing opener Adnaan Lagadien and then skipper Bulbulia, denting the hosts’ momentum.
With wickets falling regularly, South Africa struggled to keep up with the required run rate. When rain stopped play, the Proteas were four wickets down and well behind the DLS target.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s captaincy begins on a positive note
Despite scoring only 11 runs, Vaibhav Suryavanshi enjoyed a memorable start to his captaincy. The young skipper rotated his bowlers smartly, applied pressure at key moments, and kept his team focused despite weather interruptions.
India’s disciplined bowling and calm on-field decisions reflected strong leadership, making this victory a promising start for Suryavanshi as captain.
India will take confidence from this all-round performance as they look to build momentum in the remaining matches of the Youth ODI series.