Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates 18th birthday with flamboyant all-round act

The teenager swept the last four wickets and scored most of his team's runs as India U19 beat South Africa U19.

On his 18th birthday, Yashasvi Jaiswal brandished a comprehensive all-round performance and led India Under-19s to a comfortable eight-wicket win against South Africa Under-19s in the second Youth ODI played at Buffalo Park in East London on Saturday.

Electing to bowl first, India had the match under control right from the start as they reduced the home side to 97/6 before Yashasvi Jaiswal was introduced in the attack in the 24th over.

The teenager, bought by Rajasthan Royals at the auction for ₹2.4 crores to play in the 2020 Indian Premier League, took the remaining four wickets wrapping the tail up by bowling them all out with his spin, accounting for captain Khanya Cotani, Merrick Brett, Mondli Khumalo and Odirile Modimokoane.

He took just four overs to bundle the South Africans out, including taking three scalps in this final two overs, that also put him on a hat-trick in his next match. Yashasvi Jaiswal ended with figures of 4/13 in 3.5 overs as a result while South Africa U19 were bundled out for a paltry 119 in the 30th over.

A North Mumbai Panthers star in T20 Mumbai, Yashasvi Jaiswal then came out to open the innings for his side and got off the mark with a four in just the third ball of the chase. After a steady start, he then hit Merrick Brett for a four and a six as he looked to up the tempo.

He was at a run-a-ball 27 before he decided to set loose as he hammered 25 runs in the next six deliveries he faced. He punished Mondli Khumalo, in particular, with the ninth over producing 21 runs with the help of two boundaries and two maximums.

Yashasvi Jaiswal even raised his fifty in style, by hitting a four, as he reached the landmark in just 32 balls.

India U19 chased the score with eight wickets in hand in just 16.2 overs with Yashasvi Jaiswal blazing an unbeaten 89 in just 56 balls, aided by 14 fours and 3 sixes, at a strike rate of 158.92 and scoring 74 per cent of his team's runs.

For his standout performance, incidentally on his birthday, Yashasvi Jaiswal was named Man of the Match.

It was the second straight victory for India U19 with the third and final Youth ODI between the two teams to be played on Monday.

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