India's Under-19 cricket team has taken a strong 2-0 lead in their Youth One-Day International series against South Africa's Under-19 side. They won the second match easily by eight wickets at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
The game faced many stops because of lightning and rain, which made it shorter. Officials used the DLS method to set India a new target of 174 runs in just 27 overs. Young captain Vaibhav Suryavanshi was the star player. He scored a quick 68 runs from only 24 balls, hitting 10 big sixes and one four. This helped India reach 176 runs for two wickets in 23.3 overs.
South Africa's Under-19 team batted first. Their captain, Muhammed Bulbulia, won the toss and chose to bat. They scored 245 runs before losing all wickets in 49.3 overs. Jason Rowles played a strong innings for them, making 114 runs off 117 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes.
This gave his team a good total even though they kept losing wickets now and then. India's bowlers did well to fight back. Kishan Singh took 4 wickets for 46 runs in 8.3 overs. RS Ambrish picked up 2 wickets for 47 runs to control the scoring.
The match began with South Africa's openers, Jorich Van Schalkwyk and Adnaan Lagadien, building a steady start by adding runs. But India hit back early when Kishan Kumar got Lagadien out for 25 runs, caught by Abhigyan Kundu. A key moment came at 13:14 IST when Suryavanshi dropped a catch at slip off Deepesh Devendran.
This let Lagadien stay longer, but India recovered soon. Rowles reached his half-century off 65 balls at 15:17 IST. He then hit his century off 107 balls at 16:08 IST, including some sixes. Finally, Kishan Kumar dismissed him when he had 114, and South Africa fell to 233 for 9 wickets.
When India chased the target, Suryavanshi and Aaron George gave a fast start. Suryavanshi smashed 17 runs in the first over from JJ Basson, with two sixes. He got to his fifty in just 19 balls at 17:46 IST, hitting another big six off Bayanda Majola. He then scored 23 runs in one over with three sixes in a row and a four.
George got out for 20 at 17:37 IST, caught off Michael Kruiskamp. Suryavanshi followed for 68 at 17:51 IST. But Abhigyan Kundu stayed not out on 48 off 42 balls, and Vedant Trivedi was not out on 31 off 57 balls. They kept calm to finish the job.
Bad weather interrupted play several times. It stopped at 18:18 IST when India was 103 for 2 wickets. Then again at 19:17 IST when they were 115 for 2 after 12.5 overs. Play started briefly before the end. This win comes after India's first ODI victory by 25 runs on January 3, also hit by rain.
In that game, Harvansh Pangalia scored 93 and RS Ambrish made 65 to help India post 300. South Africa had reached 148 for 4 in 27.4 overs when rain came. Suryavanshi, who is just 14 years old, showed his talent with this powerful batting ahead of the Under-19 World Cup.