Sumit Sharma puts Indian colts in command

Punjab teenager Sumit Sharma fell one short of a century as the Indian colts pressed for victory in the third four-day cricket match against England Under-19 at Shenley on Tuesday.

Sharma was unlucky to be dismissed on 99 but his stellar knock helped India Under-19 declared their second innings at 293 for seven in 75.3 overs and set the hosts a monumental target of 447 at the Denis Compton ground.

The Amritsar-born batsman cracked 10 fours and two sixes while facing 142 balls during his three hour-plus stay at the crease.

Parvez Aziz, a left-hand bat from Guwahati, scored 65, a fitting riposte to his demotion to number five from the opener's slot after a second-ball duck in the first innings.

Delhi's Virat Kohli scored 46 and shared a 67-run stand with Sharma as the two led India's recovery from a precarious 69 for 3.

At the end of penultimate day's play, the hosts were 34 for one, with B Godleman and G Wood batting on two each.

Captain Vikram Chopra was the batsman to be dismissed, caught by Omkar Gurav off Shahbaz Nadeem for 28.

Earlier, the Indians did not waste much time in claiming England's remaining four first innings wickets, needing only an hour's time to see them all out for a modest 261 and amass a 153-run first innings lead.

Abu Nechim sliced through the England tail to return with four for 59 while Ishan Sharma bagged two for 66.

Rory Hamilton-Brown stood tall amidst the ruins with an unbeaten 81 that consumed 171 balls from more than four hours and contained 10 fours.