Aryan, Priyam help UP score big despite early blows
LUCKNOW:Priyam Garg was given a special task and he completed it well. On Monday, Meerut’s Priyam was drafted into playing XI for Uttar Pradesh against hosts Vidarbha in the Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy final, and he justified his selection, helping the side score 256/5.
For 18-year-old Priyam, this has been his first match in the category as he remained busy with the Ranji Trophy side and scored 800 plus runs in his debut season.
With former champions Uttar Pradesh struggling at 71/3 much before the lunch on the opening day of the four-day encounter, Priyam along with opener Aryan Juyal steadied the innings, stitching together 146-run for the fourth-wicket.
Things didn’t look good for the visitors as soon as they chose to bat first after winning the toss on a sporting wicket at the VCA Stadium. Vidarbha bowlers, especially Nachiket Bhute and Harsh Dubey kept luring the UP openers outside the off stumps with big swing. In the very fourth over, Bhute trapped skipper Aryan Sharma (5) leg before forcing Ansh Yadav (0) for a simple catch to BK Naidu in slips. Juyal then added 56-run for the third wicket along with Sameer Rizvi, who was caught by Harsh Dubey off Rohit Dattatraya after scoring 64-ball 34, which contained seven hits to the fence.
A quick fall of more wickets of UP looked eminent then, but Aryan and Priyam denied the hosts bowlers to dictate terms then. Priyam was first to go after scoring 78 in 146 balls with the help of 10 fours and a six, whereas Aryan missed a fine century by just six runs, scoring 94 in 245 balls with the help of 11 fours and a six.
Dhruv Chand Jurel (17) and Sameer Choudhary (17) then scored unbeaten 38 runs for the sixth wicket till the closer of stumps on day one. Nachiket and Harsh finished with two wickets each for Vidarbha. SCORECARD
Uttar Pradesh (1st innings): Aryan Sharma lbw Bhute 5, Aryan Juyal c Yash Kadam b Harsh Dubey 94, Ansh Yadav c BK Naidu b Bhute 0, Sameer Rizvi c Harsh Dubey b Rohit Dattatraya 34, Priyam Garg c YV Rathod b Harsh Dubey 78, Dhruv Chand Jurel batting 17, Sameer Choudhary batting 17. Extras (b8, lb3) 11. Total (for 5 wkts; 90 overs) 256.
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-15, 3-71, 4-217, 5-218.
Bowling: Tekan 17-5-45-0, Bhute 19-4-45-2, Harsh Dubey 28-3-81-2, Rohit Dattatraya 15-143-1, Prerit Agrawal 3-0-9-0, Yash Kadam 8-2-22-0.