Chelmsford, July 21 – England Under-19 made a strong comeback against India on the opening day of the second Youth Test at Chelmsford, thanks to impressive half-centuries from skipper Thomas Rew and all-rounder Ekansh Singh. After early setbacks and rain interruptions, England reached 229/7 by stumps on Sunday.
Early Collapse After India’s Bowling Dominance
Playing under overcast conditions, India won the toss and elected to bowl first—a decision that paid off immediately. Aditya Rawat and Henil Patel struck in the very first over, removing Ben Dawkins and Adam Thomas without scoring. England were suddenly reeling at 0 for 2.
The early pace duo continued to torment the English batters as the visitors collapsed to 46/4, with India taking full advantage of the seamer-friendly conditions.
England’s Recovery Led by Rew and Ekansh
England’s recovery began with Ben Mayes, who played a few attacking strokes and stitched a 34-run stand with skipper Thomas Rew before falling to RS Ambarish while attempting a big shot.
Captain Rew then led from the front with a composed 59-run knock, capitalizing on dropped chances early in his innings. He found a dependable partner in Ekansh Singh, a promising all-rounder from Kent, and the duo added 90 valuable runs for the sixth wicket.
Rew was eventually dismissed by Naman Pushpak, who trapped him with a well-disguised googly, but not before giving England a stable platform.
Ekansh Singh Shines with Unbeaten Fifty
Ekansh Singh remained unbeaten on 66, reaching his half-century off just 53 balls, showcasing confidence and flair. His innings included a well-timed six off a sweep shot and several classy strokes around the ground. He was supported by Ralphie Albert (16) and *James Minto (18)**, who helped push the total past 220.
India’s Bowling Effort
India’s bowlers had a good outing in tough conditions. Aditya Rawat, RS Ambarish, and Naman Pushpak all picked up two wickets each. However, Pushpak was also expensive at times, conceding 20 runs in a single over.
Despite letting England off the hook after an excellent start, the Indian bowlers will look to wrap up the innings quickly on Day 2.
Day 1 Summary:
England U19: 229/7 (Ekansh Singh 66 not out, Thomas Rew 59)*
India U19 Bowling: Aditya Rawat 2 wickets, RS Ambarish 2 wickets, Naman Pushpak 2 wickets
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