Garg hits ton, helps India win series
Lanky boy from Meerut mesmerizes fans with a sparkling unbeaten century against visiting Bangladesh
LUCKNOW: On the eve of the penultimate match of the Under-23 five-match ODI series on Tuesday, Indian skipper Priyam Garg had promised to let his willow do the talking against Bangladesh on Wednesday.
Call it confidence or determination of the Meerut boy but Priyam fulfilled his promise, smashing an unbeaten century, which not only helped him redeem his confidence after scoring 4 and 53 respectively in the last two matches, but also helped his side clinch the series 3-1, beating the visitors by four wickets at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium here.
Priyam, who amassed 800plus runs in his debut Ranji Trophy season last year, looked an altogether different batsman on Wednesday even when India were tottering at 16/2 in 2.5 overs, chasing 202. The situation really didn’t make a difference to him as he stroked the ball nicely to the ropes.
With a hat-trick of boundaries in seamer Shafiqul Islam’s fourth over, Priyam made his intentions clear. His 118-ball 111, which contained 12 boundaries and a six, was a treat to watch as he didn’t allow the Bangladesh bowlers to dictate terms before taking the side home in 42.2 overs for the loss of six wickets.
In fact, the right-hander, who is one of the top contenders for a place in the Indian squad for next year’s Under-19 Youth World Cup in South Africa, singlehandedly won the match. He repaired the innings well, first stitching a 40-run stand for the third wicket with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (15) and helping the side recover from the early jolts. He then collected 62 run for the sixth wicket with Shubhang Hedge (21, 48b, 2x4) to almost take the side home.
Priyam, who saw two of his partners — Samarth Vyas (4) and Kumar Suraj (10) — getting run-out, struck the team’s only six off Tanveer Islam in the mid-on cordon to reach his 99 before pushing a single to the long-off region to complete his second century since March. His previous ton was also against Bangladesh in the tri-nation under-19 tournament at Worcester in July.
It wasn’t a good start for India as team’s highest run-getter so far, Aryan Juyal (2), couldn’t negotiate a swinging delivery from left-arm pacer Shafiqual Islam and was trapped leg before. Samarth Vyas (4) found himself short of the crease when a direct throw from Zakir Hasan in the third over ripped the bails. With the scoreboard reading 16/2, a collapse looked almost imminent as Islam kept Yashasvi and Priyam busy with his quick in-cutters, but once the lanky captain got going, it was all over for the rivals.
Things weren’t different for Bangladesh either when they chose to bat on a sunny day as they also lost three quick wickets for just 22 on the board. Seamer Atit Seith had opener Mehdi Hasan (2) caught and bowled, Arshdeep Singh uprooted the middle stump of Yasir Ali Chodhury (1) before forcing Zakir Hasan (0) to give a regulation catch to Yashasvi at slip.
Ariful Haque (44, 76b, 2x4) and Alamin (40, 55b, 2x4, 1x6) then helped the side cross the 50-run mark, before Mahidul Islam Ankon (51*, 73b, 1x4, 1x6) and Robil Haque (29*, 38b, 1x4) added an unbeaten 75 runs for the seventh wicket to help the side score 201/6.
The last match of the series is scheduled on Friday. BRIEF SCORES Bangladesh 201/6 in 50 overs (MI Ankon 51, A Haque 44, Alamin 40, R Haque 29*, A Seith 2/39, A Singh 2/42) lost to India 202/6 in 42.2 overs (P Garg
111*, S Hedge 21).