India under-19 win first Test

Left arm spinner Vidyut Shivaramakrishnan's claimed eight wickets for 38 runs to enable the India under-19 team beat its England counterparts by 167 runs in the dying minutes of the fourth and final day of the first cricket Test at the Wankhede stadium in Bombay on Friday. He was well-supported by off-spinner M Dharmichand, who took 2 for 46.

With six minutes of play left, Shivaramkrishnan trapped young Sikh, Monty Panesar leg-before-wicket for nought and England were bowled out for 183.

England looked like saving the match when they were 172 for six at the start of the 15th mandatory over, with one wicket still standing. But the quota was completed and still 15 minutes of play were left. Three more overs were completed before Panesar was out with the third ball of the fourth 'extra' over that was bowled in the time left.

England started the day at three for no loss, with a target of 348 to achieve. The opening pair of Gary Pratt, the top scorer with 66, and Nicky Peng gave them a fine start of 60 in less than 20 overs before the latter became Shiva's first victim for 28.

Captain Ian Bell, the first innings centurion, dished out another fine show, scoring 48, and helped Pratt in raising a second-wicket stand of 100 runs, at which stage the vistors were 160 for one in the 58th over.

Shiva then bamboozled Pratt after the batsman had stayed at the wicket for 248 minutes, scoring eight fours.

From the other end, off-spinner Dharmichand sent back Bell with an lbw verdict. He made 48 in 138 minutes, inclusive of six fours.

The tables were soon completely turned in 30 minutes of play before tea and England, from a relatively strong position of 160 for one, collapsed to 172 for six at tea.

The three incoming batsmen Kadir Ali, Ian Pattison and Robert Ferley had no clue about the combined guile of Dharmichand and Shiva, and departed at two, three and one respectively. All were ensnared in close-in positions.

Following the exit of the top three batsmen, no of the other batsmen were able to attain double figures. The crisis worsened as the tailenders attempted to just stay put at the crease. That proved their undoing as 'Shiva' ran through them.

Mark Wallace stayed unbeaten on five for 98 minutes but his approach, as did that of the others, encouraged Indian captain Ajay Ratra to post a ring of nine fielders around the bat.

This was the tourists second defeat from the three matches they have played so far. Last week they lost very badly to Rest of India.

They now play the second Test at Madras, from January 20 after a three-day match.

Scoreboard

India (1st innings): 257

England (1st innings): 285

India (2nd innings): 378

England (2nd innings):
G Pratta c Gambhir b Shiva 66
N Peng c Garda Shiva 28
I Bell lbw Dharmichand 48
K Ali c Ratra b Shiva 2
I Pattison c Mane Dharmichand 3
M Wallace not out 5
R Ferley c Ratra b Shiva 1
K Hogg lbw Shiva 5
J Bishop c Khadkikar b Shiva 0
A McGarry c Gambhir Shiva 0
M Panesar lbw Shiva 0
Extras (1b, 7lb, 9nb, 8w): 25
Total (off 98.3 overs): 183
Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-160, 3-166, 4-169, 5-171, 6-172, 7-180, 8-180, 9-183.
Bowling: Shiva 34.3-20-38-8; Agarwal 6-0-34-0; Trivedi 14-2-37-0; Dharmichand 29-15-46-2; Khadkikar 12-8-10-0; Rao 2-0-9-0; Ganda 1-0-1-0.

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