Delray Rawlins and the England Under-19 side batted themselves into a position of strength after dominating the opening day of the first Youth Test against India at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.

England won the toss and piled up an impressive 311 for one, with centurions Max Holden and George Bartlett unbeaten at stumps as the bat dominated the ball to frustrate India yesterday.

Opening batsman Holden scored 135 from 259 balls and Bartlett a more aggressive 132 from 203. The pair came together in the 20th over after the dismissal of opener Harry Brook, caught behind off the bowling of seamer Kanishk Seth for 21, and added 254 runs in 67 overs.

Rawlins is next in the order going into the second day of the four-day Youth Test match.

The Bermudian all-rounder was England’s best batsmen in the five-match Youth One-Day International series between the two countries.

The 19-year-old Sussex player made a dream start to his England career by stroking a match-winning 107 not out and claiming two wickets in the opening ODI.