Raina and Co start with defeat in Hazare Trophy
Former joint winners Uttar Pradesh go down fighting to Saurashtra in their first league match
LUCKNOW Young batsman Priyam K Garg on Wednesday made his debut for Uttar Pradesh in style, hitting a run-a-ball 38 with the help of four boundaries and a six, but this wasn’t enough to change team’s fortunes in the domestic cricket even in the new season.
Suresh Raina-led former joint winners Uttar Pradesh went down fighting to Saurashtra by 25 runs in the season opener encounter at the Vijay Hazare Trophy, at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi.
UP’s newly appointed Ranji Trophy skipper Akshdeep Nath was in his real touch, scoring 53-ball 62, which contained six fours and two sixes. His 42-run fifth-wicket stand with Rinku Singh (14, 17b, 1x4) raised some hopes, but once he departed chasing 304 looked almost impossible.
Skipper Raina got the going tough and after scoring run-aball 22 with the help of four boundaries gave a regulation catch to AV Vasavada off DA Jadeja. Shivam Chaudhary (31), Umang Sharma (25), Upendra Yadav (25), Saurabh Kumar (22) and Shivam Mavi (22) made small-small contributions, but to no avail as UP’s innings folded at 278 in 49.1 overs.
Unlike UP bowlers, Saurashtra’s Jaydev Unadkat (3/42), Prerak Mankad (3/63) and DA Jadeja (3/48) did justice to their responsibilities after their openers Robin Uthappa and Sheldon Jackson hammered the UP bowlers all-around the ropes at ease to post a challenging 303/9 in 50 overs.
Raina’s decision to field first after winning the toss backfired as Uthappa struck 110-ball 97 with the help of 11 fours and four sixes before being trapped leg before by Akshdeep Nath.
Jackson’s 107 in 108 balls, which contained 14 fours and two sixes, discouraged UP bowlers further. The two added 194 for the opening wicket and laid a solid foundation.
Team India’s Test cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara (31, 34b, 5x4) and Chirag Jani (23, 14b, 2x6) made useful contributions in the middle.
A member of the under-19 World Cup triumphant Indian squad Shivam Mavi though finished with his maiden fivewicket haul in the domestic cricket, he conceded 73 runs in his 10 overs quota.
Left-arm seamer Mohsin Khan too reeled out 73 runs in 10 overs while picking just one wicket.
Now, UP play Chhattisgarh in their next match on Friday, at the Palam-II ground. BRIEF SCORES Saurashtra 303/9 in 50 overs (S Jackson 107, R Uthappa 97, C Pujara 31, C Jani 23, S Mavi 5/73) beat Uttar Pradesh 278 in 49.1 overs (A Nath 62, PK Garg 38, S Chaudhary 31, U Sharma 25, U Yadav 25, J Unadkat 3/42, DA Jadeja 3/48, P Mankad 3/63).
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