Puducherry: Sahil Parakh, a young southpaw from Nashik, hammered an aggressive unbeaten hundred as India Under-19 thumped Australia by nine wickets in Puducherry on Monday to claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match youth ODI series.
Parakh’s 109 (75 balls) was laced with 14 boundaries and five maximums. His blazing knock helped India achieve the target of 177 in just 22 overs to seal the series. India won the first match by seven wickets on Saturday.
After the early loss of Rudra Patel (10), the 19-year-old Maharashtra opener stitched a superb partnership of 153 with Abhigyan Kundu (53 not out, 50b, 9×4) to get his team over the line without breaking any sweat.
Sahil Parakh and Abhigyan Kundu. Two Explosive Left handed batters destroying Australian new ball bowlers at the moment. They are only dealing with boundaries and sixes.
77 runs in the first 10 overs 🔥#Indu19 #u19onedayer pic.twitter.com/jjaOPDeOEc
— Kaushik Kashyap (@CricKaushik_) September 23, 2024
While Parakh stole the headline with a fine ton, it was the bowlers who laid the foundation for a lopsided victory.
Karnataka medium pacer Samarth Nagaraj (2/34), Kerala leg-spinner Mohammed Enaan (2/30) and Maharashtra off-spinner Kiran Chormale (2/29) dismantled the visitors’ batting order and helped the hosts bowl the Aussies out for 176 all out in 49.3 overs.
Despite getting starts, several Australian batters perished cheaply to the relentless Indian bowling attack.
Middle-order batter Addison Sheriff (39, 61b, 2×4) top-scored for Australia.
The third ODI, a dead rubber, will be played on Thursday before the teams travel to Chennai for two unofficial ‘Tests’ beginning on September 30.
Parakh first came into the limelight last year in October during the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. The left-handed opener smashed a magnificent century against Bengal to power his side to a massive 229-run win over Bengal in Mulapadu, Andhra Pradesh. A product of Nashik Cricket Academy, Sahil scored 110 off just 78 balls to guide his team to a monumental win. His brutal knock was studded with eight boundaries and seven sixes.a
Sahil also impressed in the 2024 edition of Maharashtra Premier League with his explosive batting.
Brief scores: Australia U19: 176 all out in 49.3 overs (Addison Sheriff 39, Christian Howe 28; Samarth Nagaraj 2/34, Mohammed Enaan 2/30, Kiran Chormale 2/29) lost to India U19: 177/1 in 22 overs (Sahil Parakh 109 not out, Abhigyan Kundu 53 not out) by 9 wickets.
19-year-old explosive batter Sahil Parakh hammered Australian bowlers to all corners of the park as India finished off the run-chase in just 22 overs. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
