India Under-19 completed a comprehensive nine-wicket win over their Australian counterparts at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, in the first of two three-day games on its tour Down Under, on Monday.
Centuries by Mandeep Singh (126) and Harpreet Singh (125) ensured the visitors a first-innings lead of 111 on the second day. The Indian bowlers and fielders got into the act on the final day, and Australia were bowled out for a mere 228, with medium-pacer Harshal Patel taking three wickets, and off-spinner Kundan Singh two.
The hosts did not help their cause with as many as three run-outs.
Opener Mayank Agarwal, who has had a great tour so far, with 160 in the second one-dayer and 68 in the first innings of the three-day game, then scored an unbeaten 62 in the second as the Indians reached the target of 118 in only 18.4 overs, for the loss of only one wicket.
The teams will now fly to Perth for the third one-dayer on April 17, and the second three-dayer on the 19th.
In the morning session it was West Australian Mitchell Marsh who made the play for the home side. The tall right-hander went on to register his first century of the series as the hosts were dismissed for 228 chasing quick runs.
It was a chanceless innings from the teenager who finished with 109 from 123 deliveries, including 11 fours and a six to follow-up his 29 and 3-36 earlier in the match.
Although obviously disappointed with the loss, Marsh noted it was consolation to score an international hundred.
"It was obviously good to get a few runs, just a shame we couldn't get a few more on the board and really put some pressure on them later today," 17-year-old said.
"It was good to hit them reasonably well and get some time out there to work out the spinners and have a game plan against them and hit the ball well."
Marsh received good support on day three from Nic Maddinson (42) and Tom Triffitt (28), before Indian opener Mayank Agarwal (62 not out) and number three Avi Bharat (52 not out) finished off the day with brisk half-centuries to seal the win for the visitors.
Earlier, Harshal Patel was the pick of the Indian bowlers snaring 3-32 from his 8.1 overs of medium pace.
Australia trails three-nil in the series, but Marsh said there is still plenty of opportunities to be had in Perth and the team will be looking to finish on a positive note.
"I think just with our bowling and fielding we've got to be a bit more consistent," he said.
"When you've got batters like Mayank Agarwal and Mandeep Singh and those types of batsman you just can't afford to bowl bad deliveries and the only way to get players like that is to keep the pressure on to force the error.
"It's been amazing to watch and to think that they're the same age as us and they hit the ball so cleanly and they know where they're going to hit it every time, it's just got to watch. Unfortunately we were on the receiving end a bit though."
Scores: Australia Under-19 (306-7 declared and 228) lost to India (417-7 declared and 120-1) by nine wickets.
