London: The Indian U-19 team riding on a scintillating 74 from Himanshu Rana and four wickets by Anukul Roy won the second ODI against England U-19 in Canterbury to gain a 2-0 lead in the the five-match ODI series.
The visitors had put up a solid performance in the first match in Cardiff where the Indian spinners led by Anukul Roy who had taken four wickets in that game as well.
In this match, he was assisted by the likes of leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, who scalped three wickets and Abhishek Sharma, who dismissed two batsmen.
Chasing a low total of 175, the visitors cruised to victory with more than 16 overs to spare as 18-year old Haryana lad Himanshu Rana led the chase with a knock of 74 runs from 85 balls.
Earlier, England U-19 skipper Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bat. Openers Liam Trevaskis (35) and Liam Banks (23) put on a steady 48-run opening partnership in eight overs before the Indian spinners came into the act.
Banks was the first victim as he fell to Rahul Chahar. But English captain Brooks staged a brief fightback with 21 runs but when both him and Trevaskis were dismissed in a short span, the pressure completely shifted to the hosts. Both of them were dismissed by Anukul Roy who went on to claim the wickets of Will Jacks (21) and Tom Banton (10) to leave England reeling at 119/5.
But cameos by Tom Lammonby (30*) and Jack Blatherwick (16) helped England to 175 as there was no significant contribution made by the lower middle order.
In response, Rana’s innings took India to a comfortable win as he was also supported by skipper Prithvi Shaw (48) and Shubham Gill (38*).