England U19s suffer five-wicket defeat to India in first tri-series match

England U19s began their tri-series with a five-wicket defeat to India U19s at Blackfinch New Road.

Lewis Goldsworthy top-scored for England with 58 with the Somerset right-hander showing impressive resolve as wickets fell around him before the hosts were bowled out for 204.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal paced India’s response with 78 and while the England bowlers continued to plug away the reigning U19 world champions claimed a first-up win in the tri-series.

The Young Lions will get an immediate chance to bounce back when they host Bangladesh U19s at New Road on Monday.

SCORECARD: https://www.ecb.co.uk/matches/10853

“It was the first game and we didn’t know a lot about the opposition today,” Goldsworthy said.

“We got off to a good start and started to lose a lot of wickets quite quickly. Hopefully tomorrow we can make that right.”

Goldsworthy was pleased to get runs to start the series, during which each team will play eight games before the final at Hove on August 11.

“It’s always nice to get runs in the first game of a series,” he said.

“There were wickets falling around me and I just tried to stay there. One of my strengths is gluing an innings together.

“It was a bit disappointing not to go on and get and 80 or 90 but it was nice to get a few runs under my belt.”

Gloucestershire's Ben Charlesworth and Kent's Jordan Cox have been retained by their counties for upcoming Specsavers County Championship and Vitality Blast games respectively and will miss the first few matches of this series. 

Hampshire's George Metzger and Yorkshire 'keeper Finlay Bean have been called into the squad as replacements.

The ICC U19 World Cup will be staged in South Africa from January next year with all of the current England squad eligible to play in the tournament.