India Under-19 captain Ayush Mhatre played a remarkable knock under pressure in the second Youth Test against England Under-19 at Chelmsford and broke a number of records, including that of England’s current head coach and former New Zealand icon Brendon McCullum to hammer over 200 runs in a Youth Test with a strike-rate of over 100. Mhatre’s strike-rate, however, read better than the Kiwi legend, who had achieved the feat in a Youth Test against South Africa back in 2001. Chasing a big target of 355 runs, Ayush Mhatre played a magnificent innings of 126 runs off just 80 balls, hitting 13 fours and 6 sixes at an impressive strike rate of 157.50. India Under-19s started with a setback as opening batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed for a golden duck on the very first ball by Alex Green Mhatre’s individual score in both innings totalled to 206 off 170 balls at a strike-rate of 121.17. McCullum, on the other hand, had smoked 186(172) in the first innings and 46 unbeaten off 42 balls in the second while leading New Zealand’s U-19 unit. His combined total was 232 off 214 balls, which came at a strike rate of 108.41. Mhatre breaks number of  records , Mhatre reached his century in only 64 balls, making it the third-fastest Youth Test hundred in all recorded history. Only Moeen Ali (56 balls) and Suryavanshi (58) have recorded quicker Youth Test hundreds. Mhatre finished on 126 off 80 balls after an innings studded with 13 fours and six sixes. The Chennai Super Kings revelation was also in prime touch in the first innings, aggregating 80 in only 90 deliveries. Mhatre thereby became only the second batter after New Zealand legend Brendon McCullum to record more than 200 runs in a Youth Test with a strike-rate above 100. The young Mumbaikar went even further up, with his whopping 121.17 strike rate ranking even higher than McCullum’s 108.41 in a Youth Test against South Africa in 2001. The New Zealand U19 skipper then, Mhatre also broke the Indian Youth Test record held by Manoj Tiwary for most sixes in a match. Ayush Mhatre was in excellent form throughout the Youth Test series against England. In the first test at Beckenham, he scored a brilliant 102 runs in the first innings and added 32 more in the second. In the second Youth Test, Mhatre continued his strong run with a match-winning knock, but unfortunately, rain spoiled the game once again.

Just when India was pushing for victory at 290 for 6 in the 43rd over, rain stopped play and the match ended in a draw. With both matches drawn, the Youth Test series ended 0-0, bringing India U19’s England tour to a close without a winner.