LDACC’s Rahul Rawat hits ton for UP

DESPITE LOSING TWO QUICK WICKETS FOR JUST 39 ON THURSDAY MORNING, UTTAR PRADESH FOUGHT BACK IN STYLE WITH RAWAT ADDING 161-RUN FOR THE THIRD-WICKET WITH SKIPPER KARAN SHARMA, WHO ALSO SCORED AN UNBEATEN HALF-CENTURY LATER IN THE DAY

LUCKNOW : Young Rahul S Rawat slammed a superb century as Uttar Pradesh gave a befitting reply to hosts Andhra Pradesh’s big total in the first innings on the penultimate day of their four-day Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy tie, at the ASA Stadium in Ananthapur on Thursday. Rawat, who hails from the Lucknow’s LDA Coaching Centre, struck 172-ball 126 as Uttar Pradesh finished the dat at 285/3 in 76 overs while replying to Andhra’s first innings total of 617/7 declared. Uttar Pradesh still trail by 332 runs in the first innings. Despite losing two quick wickets for just 39 on Thursday morning, Uttar Pradesh fought back in style with Rawat adding 161-run for the third-wicket with skipper Karan Sharma, who also scored an unbeaten half-century later in the day. Opener Abhishek Goswami departed on the very first ball of the innings after being trapped leg before wicket by seamer A Pranaykumar on duck. Soon Madhav Kaushik (15, 21b, 3x4) edged straight catch to S Tarun off Chvs Koushik. Certainly, two quick wickets early in the game were a big plus for the hosts, but Rawat and Sharma then negotiated the Andhra attack well with some eye-catching shots. Before being caught by S Ashish off Bhagat Varma, Rawat struck 16 fours and four sixes. Rawat’s departure in the 53rd over didn’t make much of a difference as Sharma along with Sameer Choudhary continued to defy the Andhra bowlers and ended the day without being separated. So far they have added unbeaten 85-run for the fourth-wicket.

Sharma’s 185-ball 85 contained eight hits to the fence, whereas Choudhary’s unbeaten 52 came off 80 balls with the help of four boundaries and two sixes.

A Pranaykumar, Chvs Koushik and Bhagath Varma took a wicket each.