Rahul shines in UP’s fascinating victory

LUCKNOW : A sparkling half-century by Rahul S Rawat guided former champions Uttar Pradesh score a convincing fivewicket win over hosts Maharashtra in their Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy at Pune on Tuesday.

Rahul slammed 128-ball 70, which contained seven fours and two sixes as Uttar Pradesh romped home in 47.5 overs while chasing 147 to win the second innings.

Rahul along with Almas Shaukat (41, 108b, 6x4) added valuable 90-run for the third wicket after Uttar Pradesh lost two quick wickets for just nine on the board in the eighth over on the last day of the four-day Elite Group B encounter.

Loss of opener Abhishek Goswami (0) and Aryan Juyal (3) didn’t make a difference to Rahul and Almas, who enjoyed good stroke-play at the Deccan Gymkhana Cricket Ground. Even though the two departed in quick succession, Shubham Chaubey (17, 15b, 1x4, 1x6) and Sandeep Kumar (12*, 8b, 2x6) took the side home at ease.

Maharashtra had scored 344 in their first innings, before being bowled at 149 in the second innings. Uttar Pradesh had scored 347 in the first innings and needed 147 runs for their second win this season in the fifth match. Now, Uttar Pradesh, which has 19 points from five matches, will now be playing against Tripura at Meerut from Sunday.

BOWLERS’ SHINE

Uttar Pradesh bowlers’ especially Kartik Tyagi (4/33), Shivam Sharma (3/31) and Mohit Jangra (2/28) helped the side take a firm control on the proceedings in their four-day Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy tie against hosts Baroda in Vadodara on Tuesday.

With 3/28 in their second innings while following-on Baroda still trail by 257 runs, and staring on a defeat after being bowled out for paltry 132 in their first innings while chasing Uttar Pradesh’s first innings total of 417.

Kinit Patel (10), Lucky D Barot (8) and Sumedh Marathe (1) were the wicket to fall in Baroda’s second innings. But the real turn around for them came in the first innings. Barring Sumedh Marathe (22) and Sashwat Rawat (20) none could show any resistance to UP bowlers.

Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 338/7, Uttar Pradesh scored 417 in 107 overs. Purnank Tyagi struck 73 in 92 balls with the help of nine fours and guided the side cross 400-run mark. Nisarg Patel (4/95) and Archan Kothari (3/87) remained the most successful bowlers for Baroda, at the Alembic Cricket Ground.