It’s four-in-a-row for Uttar Pradesh
LUCKNOW : Former champions Uttar Pradesh crushed hosts Gujarat by 55 runs to notch up their fourth successive win in as many as matches in the Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy, at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat on Friday.
The win, however, helped Uttar Pradesh maintain their top position with 16 points in 18-team pool of Elite Group A and B. Madhya Pradesh and Punjab are the second and third positions with 12 points each. Now, UP play against Jharkhand on Tuesday.
UP’s win was a result of a fine performance by both batsmen and bowlers. Sameer Rizvi and Sameer Choudhary struck fine half-centuries to help UP post 221/6 in 50 overs. Later, Purnank Tyagi, Kritagya K Singh and Shivam Sharma did the trick with ball to see Gujarat getting out for 166 in 46.2 overs.
For a while Gujarat’s decision to field first after winning the toss looked good when they had UP’s opener Aryan Sharma (1) in the fourth over. They were later reduced to 55/3 in the 19th over.
But a 111-run fourth wicket partnership between Rizvi and Choudhary saved the face for UP. Rizvi remained unbeaten on 79, which came off 110 balls with the help of seven fours, whereas Choudhary’s 72-ball 61 contained two fours and two sixes. A handy unbeaten 23 in just 15 balls with the help of one four and a six by Dhruv Chand Jurel helped the side cross 200-run mark.
For Gujarat, SA Desai took two wickets, whereas Akash, Jaymeet Patel and Suraj S Suryal shared three wickets between them.
In contrast to UP innings, hosts men started the run chase in style with openers RD Patel (43, 74b, 4x4) and SD Chauhan (32, 61b, 2x4, 1x6) stitching together 72 runs for the opening wicket. But once the two departed in quick succession, things began changing dramatically. Barring LM Kocher (30, 44b, 1x6) and Uman (19, 16b, 1x4, 1x6), all other Gujarat batsmen found the UP bowlers almost unplayable before being bowled out at 166 in 46.2 overs. Seamer Purnank bowled a tight line to take three for 32, whereas wrist bowlers Kritagya (3/39) and
RAT ON FRIDAY. THE WIN, HOWEVER, HELPED UTTAR PRADESH MAINTAIN THEIR TOP POSITION WITH 16 POINTS IN 18TEAM POOL OF ELITE GROUP A AND B. MADHYA PRADESH AND PUNJAB ARE THE SECOND AND THIRD POSITIONS WITH 12 POINTS EACH
Shivam Sharma (2/31) did the finishing work. BRIEF SCORES UP 221/6 in 50 overs (S Rizvi 79*, S Choudhary 61, DC Jurel 23*, SA Desai 2/27) beat Gujarat 166 in 46.2 overs (RD Patel 43, SD Chauhan 32, LM Kocher 30, P Tyagi 3/32, KK Singh 3/39, S Sharma 2/31).