Dhiman leads India to comfortable victory

India Under-19s 299 for 9 (Dhiman 43, Tiwari 46, Tehlan 51) beat England Under-19s 253 (Ali 57, Smith 56, Sharma 2-20) by 46 runs, and lead series 1-0
Scorecard

Gaurav Dhiman, the Karnataka allrounder, caught the eye as India Under-19s eased to a comfortable 46-run victory over England, in the first one-day international at the Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium in Agartala. Dhiman blazed his way to 43 off just 30 balls as the Indians piled up 299 for 9, and then dismissed both openers as the English challenge faltered in the first 20 overs.

With M Tewari also smashing 46 from 37 balls, the India Under-19s didn't lack momentum. Mayank Tehlan provided the solidity with a dogged 84-ball 51, and there were contributions right down the order, with Piyush Chawla thwacking three sixes in his 32 from 17 balls. Mark Lawson's legbreaks fetched him 2 for 46, and although David Griffiths took two wickets they cost him 48 from four overs.

In response, the English side slumped to 81 for 6, not helped by two early run-outs. Moeen Ali (57) and Tom Smith (56) spared them an absolute hiding by striking half-centuries, but the result was never in doubt, and the Indians wrapped it up with 20 balls to spare. Dhiman finished with 2 for 58, while Kuldip Sharma (2 for 20) and Andimani Pradeep, the offspinner from Andhra Pradesh (2 for 45), were also among the wickets.