India U-19 produced an impressive fightback on the opening day of the second Youth Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, recovering from a disastrous start to finish at 253/3 in 65 overs before rain and bad light brought play to an early close.

The visitors found themselves in deep trouble after both openers, Lakshya Raichandani and Sagar Virk, were dismissed without scoring, leaving India at 0/2.

However, captain Yashvardhan Chauhan and Kushagra Ojha steadied the innings with a crucial 122-run partnership for the third wicket.

Yashvardhan played a composed knock of 78 before being dismissed, while Kushagra remained unbeaten on 103, registering a well-crafted century under pressure.

After the skipper's departure, Manal Chauhan joined Kushagra at the crease, and the duo added an unbeaten 131-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Manal ended the day on 55 not out, putting India firmly in control heading into the second day's play.

For Sri Lanka, Gimhan Mendis claimed two wickets, while Sethmika Seneviratne picked up one dismissal.

Kushagra Ojha's Century Rescues India

Kushagra Ojha's unbeaten hundred proved to be the defining innings of the day.

After India's top-order collapse, the right-hander showed patience and maturity, rotating the strike effectively before accelerating as the innings progressed. His partnership first with captain Yashvardhan Chauhan and later with Manal Chauhan helped India seize the momentum despite the challenging start.

With seven wickets still in hand, India will look to build a substantial first-innings total when play resumes.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) also announced its Player of the Month awards for June, honouring New Zealand fast bowler Nathan Smith and England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge for their outstanding performances.

Nathan Smith Wins Men's Award

Nathan Smith claimed the men's award after starring in New Zealand's 2-1 Test series victory over England.

The fast bowler finished as the series' leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets, including a memorable 9-wicket match haul at Lord's, highlighted by figures of 6/70 in the second innings.

Smith edged out India captain Shubman Gill and Bangladesh all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain to receive the honour.

After winning the award, Smith said contributing to New Zealand's series victory was the most rewarding part of his performances.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge Takes Women's Honour

England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge received the women's Player of the Month award following a sensational run of form.

She scored an unbeaten 105 off 62 balls against Sri Lanka before following it up with an unbeaten 89 from 53 deliveries against New Zealand during the tournament. Wyatt-Hodge was named Player of the Match in both contests.

Reflecting on the recognition, the England batter said that playing a World Cup final at Lord's would remain one of the most memorable moments of her career.

How ICC Player of the Month Winners Are Chosen

The ICC Player of the Month awards are decided through a combination of global fan voting and assessments made by an independent panel comprising former international cricketers, broadcasters, and cricket journalists.

England all-rounder Freya Kemp's explosive 39 off 13 balls and a two-wicket haul powered the hosts to a comprehensive 26-run victory, levelling the three-match T20I series at 1-1.

Kemp's Cameo Changes the Game

Bristol witnessed one of those innings that swings a match entirely in the space of 18 deliveries. England were sitting at 116 for 4 in the 17th over — competitive, but not quite imposing. Then Freya Kemp walked in.

What followed was a short, brutal assault. The young all-rounder took apart Arundhati Reddy's final over with a six, two fours and another maximum on the last ball, finishing unbeaten on 39 off just 13 balls at a strike rate of 300. England's total jumped to 168 for 5, a score that would prove just beyond India's reach.

Slow Start, Steady Middle, Explosive Finish

England's innings had been anything but fluent in the early stages. Their powerplay yielded only 35 for 1, with India's left-arm spinner N. Sri Charani tying down the batters effectively in the middle overs.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge made 36 before Sri Charani had her caught by Smriti Mandhana at the boundary. Amy Jones followed shortly after, pouched by Harmanpreet Kaur. England captain Heather Knight, who has now scored 19, 25, 18, 21 and 18 in her last five T20 innings, added 18 before offering a soft return catch to Sri Charani — a worrying run of modest scores for the home side's skipper.

Dani Gibson chipped in with useful support during Kemp's blitz, the pair adding 14 off a Nandini Sharma over to help accelerate the innings in its closing stages. Sri Charani finished with 3 for 25 from 4 overs — easily the pick of the Indian bowlers.

India's Chase Falters Early

Chasing 169, India needed a strong platform. They didn't get one. Shafali Verma, usually dangerous at the top, was caught at cover off Lauren Bell in the third over. Smriti Mandhana came and went, caught by Alice Capsey off Kemp's bowling.

Yastika Bhatia provided some resistance and top-scored for India with 33, though her 36-ball knock meant the required rate kept climbing. England dropped her twice — Sophie Ecclestone spilled a low chance and Charlie Dean put her down off her own bowling when Bhatia was on 29 — but the extra lives couldn't alter the outcome. Under mounting pressure, Bhatia eventually chose to retire out, leaving India needing 60 from the last five overs.

Death Overs Seal India's Fate

Jemimah Rodrigues arrived at the crease with the equation still just about alive, but Kemp, operating with the ball now, removed her second ball — caught at cover. Charlie Dean then delivered the knockout blow in a single over, dismissing Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur in quick succession.

India needed 39 off the last 12 balls. The lower order couldn't come close. Final score: 142 for 9.

Dean took 2 for 20 from 4 overs, while Bell and Kemp claimed 2 wickets each. Kemp's match figures — 39 not out and 2 for 15 — made her the obvious choice as player of the match.

Series Heads to Taunton

India, who had won the opening T20I, now go into Tuesday's decider at Taunton level at 1-1. The third and final match will determine the series winner, and both sides will be aware of the margins involved — India were never truly out of this chase until the 16th over. A repeat of Sri Charani's accuracy with the ball, and a more disciplined batting effort in the death, could well swing things back in the visitors' favour.

Half-centuries from Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia, followed by debutant Nandani Sharma’s clinical spell, seal a commanding 38-run win for India women's team in Chelmsford.

A revamped Indian middle order stepped up under pressure as the India women's team registered an emphatic 38-run victory over England in the first T20I at the County Ground on Thursday. Guided by stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana in the absence of the rested Harmanpreet Kaur, India successfully defended a robust 188 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The match served as a perfect World Cup rehearsal for both units, exposing England's ground fielding vulnerabilities while validating India's tactical tactical shifts in their batting blueprint.

Early Disasters At The Top

Choosing to bowl first in sweltering conditions, England's pace spearhead Lauren Bell handed India a nightmare start. Bell struck with her very first delivery, removing Mandhana for a golden duck, before dismissing a tentative Shafali Verma (2) later in the same over.

With the scoreboard reading a precarious 7 for 2, India looked desperate for a stabilizing partnership.

The Decisive Counterattack

What followed was a batting masterclass from Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues, who completely shifted the momentum with a blistering 126-run partnership off just 76 deliveries. Returning to the T20I setup after a lengthy injury layoff, Bhatia showed no signs of rust. She took a particular liking to Issy Wong’s bowling, tearing through a 27-run over that disrupted England's bowling lengths.

Bhatia reached her half-century in 31 balls, eventually departing for a well-made 54 off 40 deliveries, laced with nine boundaries and a six.

At the other end, Rodrigues assumed the aggressor's role with surgical precision. She smashed a brilliant 69 off 40 balls, employing square cuts and sweeps to manipulate the field.

"Losing two wickets in the first over is never ideal, but the way Yastika and Jemi counterattacked was exceptional," stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana said after the match. "They kept playing positive shots and refused to let England dictate terms."

Mid-Innings Collapse And Recovery

England clawed their way back into the contest via a brief Indian batting collapse. Immediately after Bhatia was run out by a sharp throw from Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean caught Rodrigues off her own bowling.

India slipped from a comfortable 133 for 2 to a nervous 148 for 6 within 16 balls, as Richa Ghosh and Bharti Fulmali fell cheaply. However, a crucial late-overs cameo from Deepti Sharma (22 off 13 balls) pushed India’s total to a formidable 188 for 7.

England Fall Apart In Chase

Chasing 189, England’s response got off to a bumpy start. Seamer Kranti Gaud struck early, removing dangerous openers Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey within the first four overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones played a lone hand, anchoring the chase with a fighting 67 off 48 balls. Jones found brief support from veteran Heather Knight, who marked her milestone 310th international appearance with a brief 21.

However, the required run rate climbed past 15 an over, putting immense pressure on the host's lower-middle order.

Dream Debut For Sharma

The final blow came from debutant all-rounder Nandani Sharma. Brought back into the attack during the death overs, Sharma turned the game completely in India’s favor by picking three wickets in a single over.

She first removed the dangerous Amy Jones, followed by Dani Gibson on the very next ball. Though she missed out on a hat-trick, Sharma cleaned up Issy Wong two balls later to finish with superb figures of 3 for 34, restricting England to 150 for 8.

With the series opener sealed in style, the India women's team will look to wrap up the assignment when they face England in the second T20I at Bristol on Saturday.