India colts lose to England despite Himanshu Rana's century

India U-19 batsman Himanshu Rana celebrates his century against England during an ODI encounter at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai yesterday. England won by 23 runs. Pic/SURESH KARKERA

opener Himanshu Rana's fighting 101 went in vain as India under-19 lost the opening one-day international against England U-19 by 23 runs at Wankhede Stadium yesterday.

Chasing 257 for a win, India were in dire straits, losing opener Prithvi Shaw in the seventh over with just 32 on the board. Shaw, known for his attacking batting, was simply not in rhythm yesterday as he took 13 balls to score his first boundary and faced 22 balls for his painstaking nine runs. Rana then added 46 runs for the second wicket with Shubham Gill (29) but lost the next three wickets for the addition of just 25 runs.

Undeterred with wickets tumbling at the other end, Rana held one end firmly. He added 35 runs for the sixth wicket with Het Patel (20) and 60 more with Kamlesh Nagarkoti (37) for the seventh wicket to take India closer to the target.

England captain Matthew Fisher claimed figures of 4-41. Pic/PTI

After Rana departed, with India still needing 59 more to get, the tail wagged for a while before folding up for 233 in 42.5 overs. For the visitors, Matthew Fisher bagged 4-41. Earlier, put into bat, England were reeling at 13-3. Opener Harry Brook (51) pushed the score to 126-6 by the 32nd over. But Delray Rawlins pulled the visitors out of the woods with his 88-ball unbeaten 107, which had eight fours and five sixes. Seamer Nagarkoti was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 2-36.