Akshu Bajwa's Spin Masterclass Puts Uttar Pradesh in Command
In a spin-dominated opening day at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, left-arm orthodox spinner Akshu Bajwa delivered a match-defining performance, claiming a brilliant six-wicket haul to bowl out Chandigarh for a modest 170 runs in their Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy encounter on Friday. The day witnessed a total of 13 wickets falling for just 216 runs on a surface that offered ample assistance to the slow bowlers, setting the stage for a gripping contest.
Chandigarh's Batting Collapse After Toss Decision Backfires
Chandigarh's skipper won the toss and elected to bat first, but the decision quickly backfired as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. Opener Dushyant was the first to depart, trapped in front by medium pacer Vijay Kumar for 19 runs in the fifth over with the score at 24. A brief partnership between Aryan Bansal and Raghav Verma added 52 runs, providing some stability. However, Shubham Mishra broke the stand by dismissing Bansal for a well-made 40 off 56 balls, which included six boundaries and a six.
Thereafter, Akshu Bajwa took center stage, running through the middle and lower order with precision. He removed Raghav Verma (15), Nikhil (25), Aarush (3), Adhiraj (0), Nishunk Birla (0), and Jaskirat Singh (0), reducing Chandigarh to a precarious 146 for 9. Some late resistance came from Aryan Duggal and Ivraj Ranauta, who added 24 runs for the last wicket, but the innings concluded at 170 when Vijay Kumar bowled Duggal with an incoming delivery. Duggal top-scored among the lower order with a quick 22 off 14 balls, including five boundaries.
Uttar Pradesh's Shaky Start in Reply
In response, Uttar Pradesh's innings got off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets for 46 runs in 28 overs. Captain and opener Adarsh Singh was caught behind for just 2 runs off medium pacer Aryan Duggal. Chandigarh's early introduction of spin paid dividends, with Nishunk Birla claiming two key wickets, removing Siddharth Chaudhary (21) and Ritu Raj Sharma (9). At stumps, Uttar Pradesh still trailed by 124 runs in the first innings, with the pitch continuing to favor spinners, making scoring runs on day two a formidable challenge.
Coaches' Perspectives and Tribute to UPCA Curator
UP coach Gyanendra Pandey emphasized the need for his batsmen to apply themselves and bat through the day if the hosts are to push for a victory. Meanwhile, Chandigarh coach Ravindra Sharma expressed hope that his spinners would deliver on day two, anticipating an interesting contest ahead. In a somber note, players and officials from both teams observed a two-minute silence in the morning to pay tribute to UPCA chief curator Shiv Kumar, who passed away while preparing the wicket for this match.
Brief scores: Chandigarh 1st innings: 170 (Arnav Bansal 40, Nikhil 25, Devang Kaushik 26; Vijay Kumar 3/51, Akshu Bajwa 6/56). UP 1st innings: 3/46 (Siddharth Chaudhary 21; Nishunk Birla 2/24).
