Bowlers help UP score big win in season opener

LUCKNOW: Bowlers once again underlined their potential with red cherry on Tuesday as former champions Uttar Pradesh notched up a facile 98-run win against Vidarbha in a Central Zone league match of the Under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy in Aligarh.

Seamer Aaquib Khan picked up four for 31, whereas Damandeep Singh and Abhishek S Tomar took three and two wickets each as Uttar Pradesh got Vidarbha out on 99 in 66.1 overs in their second innings to inflict a win in the opening encounter of the season.

Vidarbha needed 198 to win on the last day of the three-day encounter at the Aligarh Muslim University Ground on Tuesday, but they never got the going easy. Barring opener Avishkar Jadhao (38, 162b, 4x4) and Danish Malewar (16) no other could touch the double figure mark.

Uttar Pradesh, which took 56-run first innings lead against Vidarbha after scoring 199 and getting out the rivals for 143, resumed at the overnight score of 90/3 with opener Aaradhya Yadav (47) and Subhankar Shukla (1) on the crease on Tuesday.

They too got the things a little tough and got out for 141 in 67 overs. Yadav scored 58 in 150 balls whereas Shukla struck 25 in 52 balls to help the side cross 00-run mark. The remaining six batsmen could score 19 runs in unison.

Sahil Sheikh (4/20), Minar Sahare (3/41) and Tejas Soni (2/25) were the main wicket takers for Vidarbha.

Now, Uttar Pradesh play their second match of the season against Madhya Pradesh, at the Madan Mohan Malviya Stadium in Prayagraj (Allahabad) from October 27.

UP TO PLAY BENGAL

Former champions Uttar Pradesh would be looking to continue their winning streak in their last league encounter in the Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy one-day when they take on Bengal, at the Khavad Gymkhana Ground in Surat on Wednesday.

Uttar Pradesh have already made it to the quarterfinals with all seven wins in as many as matches so far and are placed on top of the joint group of A and B, whereas Bengal with 12 points in seven matches so far are placed at the 11th position.

“Certainly, we are looking to continue our winning spree even on Wednesday as it will boost the confidence of the boys ahead of the knockout match,” coach Amir Khan said on Tuesday.