Rajasthan's promising all-rounder Jatin Saini delivered a spectacular individual performance, single-handedly putting his team in a commanding position against Vidarbha in the ongoing Cooch Behar Under-19 Trophy Elite match. After a brilliant bowling display on Day 1, Saini smashed an unbeaten century on Day 2 at Jaipur's KL Saini Stadium on Tuesday.
Jatin Saini's Day to Remember
Jatin Saini emerged as the undisputed star of the match, showcasing his exceptional talent with both bat and ball. Resuming the day after his three-wicket haul had bundled out Vidarbha for 186, Saini walked out to bat and played a magnificent innings. He remained not out on 114 runs, facing 160 deliveries in a knock that included 15 fours and 3 sixes. His unbeaten partnership with Honey Pratap Singh (3*) took Rajasthan to a formidable total of 381 for 9 in their first innings at stumps on Day 2.
Rajasthan's Batting Dominance
Rajasthan, resuming from their overnight score of 23 for 1, completely dominated the day's proceedings. They amassed 358 runs across 90 overs, frustrating the Vidarbha bowlers. While Saini was the cornerstone, he received valuable support from his teammates. Aditay Saini contributed a solid 57, while captain Kushagra Ojha scored 53. Rajat Baghel (41), Rakshit Lunawat (38), and Naved Khan (32) also chipped in with crucial runs, building a massive team total.
Vidarbha's Uphill Battle
Facing a daunting first-innings deficit, Vidarbha now finds itself in a difficult position. Their bowling attack struggled to contain the Rajasthan batters. The only bowlers who managed to make an impact were Sarthak Dhabadgaonkar, who took 3 wickets for 69 runs, and Iknoor, who claimed 2 wickets for 84 runs. With Rajasthan leading by 195 runs and still having one wicket in hand, Vidarbha faces a monumental task to save the match when play resumes.
The brief scores at the end of Day 2 are: Vidarbha: 186 all out in 78.2 overs. Rajasthan: 381/9 in 98 overs (Jatin Saini 114*, Aditay Saini 57, Kushagra Ojha 53; Sarthak Dhabadgaonkar 3-69). The match now heavily favors the hosts, thanks largely to one young man's extraordinary all-round effort.
