Patiala/Mohali/Chandigarh: Punjab drew their tie against Himachal Pradesh at Dhruv Pandove Stadium, Patiala of their first round group match of 6th All India U-19 Dhruv Pandove Trophy.
Punjab who had scored 308 in 87.4 overs in first innings were able to contain Himachal to 240 for all in 83.3 overs to take a first innings lead of 68 runs and garner 3 points while Himachal Pradesh got 1.
Overnight 31 for 3, Himachal’s unbeaten batsman Apoorav Walia continued from where had had left as he put on 77 runs for the 4th wicket with Karmanya Verma (14) and there after 84 runs with Shubham Arora for the 5th wicket. Apoorv Walia finally perished while trying to cut Prerit Dutta and was held by Nipun Pandita after scoring a sedate century (106) off 181 balls studded with 12 boundaries.
Shubham Arora was the next to go being caught by Prabhsimran of Mayank Markande for 58. For Patiala Mayank Markande 4 for 58, Abhishek Sharma 2 for 39 and Rishab Bhagat 2 for 25 shared the spoils.
In the 2nd match played at IS Bindra Stadium PCA, Mohali, Mumbai took a slender 45 runs first innings lead against MPCA and garner 3 points while MPCA got one. Chasing 161-run target set by MPCA Mumbai went on to score (206) before being bowled out in 66.5 overs. Their innings revolved around Agni Chopra who was unlucky miss his century by 2 runs as he was caught by R.Chaubey off R.Srivastava for (98) off 195 balls inclusive of 9 boundaries and 3 sixes.
Other main contributions came from Sidak Singh (30) and Ashay Sardesai (23). At one stage Mumbai were looking down the barrel with half their side back in the pavilion for a meager 75 runs on the board before a 57 runs stand between Agni Chopra and Sidak Singh turned the tide for Mumbai. For MPCA R.Srivastava scalped 6 for 72 while S. Maratha took 2 for 27.
MPCA in their 2nd innings were 124 for 3 in 29 overs before the play was called off. Opener Sidharth Patidar remained unbeaten on 79 off 81 balls inclusive of 10 boundaries and one six. For Mumbai Shubham Pandey 2 for 40 was the most successful bowler.
In the 3rd match played at Cricket Stadium, Sector 16, Odisha and Bengal split one point each as the first innings could not be completed. Odisha were helped in their cause by brilliant centuries by Akash Naik (120) off 274 balls with 13x4s and 1x6 and Captain Saurab Raut (120) off 215 balls with 13x4s and 1x6. The two batsmen were involved in a 4th wicket stand of 223 runs which took the Odisha total to 310 for 9 in 100 overs. For Bengal Pradipta Pramanik 4 for 110 and Irfan Ansari 3 for 32 were the main wicket takers.
In reply Bengal were 202 for 7 when the play ended. Sudeep Gharami (36) Ankurpal (30) Irfan Ansari (29) Aarif Ansari (33) and S.K. Asif Hossain unbeaten 37 were the principal run getters for Bengal. For Odisha Sunil Roul 4 for 53 and Harshit Rathore 2 for 71 were the main wicket takers. Saurab Raut was named man of the match.
In the 4th match, Baroda and Vidarbha split points at Govt College Ropar as the first innings could not be completed. Batting first Baroda could muster 151 before being bowled out in 74.5 overs. Jyotsnil Singh (56) Shivalik Sharma (22) Shlok Desai (22) were the main run getters for Baroda. Parth Rekde 5 for 35 Yash Thakur 2 for 20 and Darshan Nalkande 2 for 33 were the main wicket takers for Vidarbha.
Replying Vidarbha were 88 for 9 in 47 overs when the play ended. As a matter of fact Vidarbha lost their 9th wicket at 84 in 36.5 overs. Their last wicket held on tenaciously for 10.1 overs to salvage a draw for their team. Ninand Rathwa bowled a mesmerizing spell of 7 for 37 for Baroda. Tomorrow is the rest Day.