A defiant century from captain Kush Sharma has ignited Vidarbha's fightback on the third day of their Cooch Behar Trophy Under-19 Elite match against Rajasthan at Jaipur's KL Saini Stadium. After conceding a hefty first-innings lead, Vidarbha showed remarkable resilience in their second essay to tilt the balance of the game.
Sharma Leads from the Front in Crucial Second Innings
Facing a daunting deficit of 212 runs, Vidarbha needed a solid start in their second innings. Opener and skipper Kush Sharma answered the call with a composed and patient century, scoring 112 runs. His knock laid the foundation for the team's recovery, steering them away from immediate danger. He found support from Gaurav, who contributed 37 runs, and later from Malhar Dhurad.
Match Poised for Tense Final Day Finish
At the close of play on the penultimate day, Vidarbha had reached 247 for the loss of five wickets in 84 overs. Malhar Dhurad remained unbeaten on 45, with Anand Tale (1*) for company. This means Vidarbha now holds a slender lead of 35 runs, but with only five wickets remaining. The first session on the final morning is expected to be decisive for both sides, setting up a thrilling conclusion.
Rajasthan's All-Rounder Shines Despite Fightback
For Rajasthan, all-rounder Jatin Saini was the standout performer. After resuming the day at their overnight score of 381 for 9, Rajasthan were bowled out for 398, adding just 17 runs. Saini, who had earlier top-scored with a brilliant 127 off 179 balls (15x4, 4x6), then turned his attention to bowling. He captured three crucial wickets for 36 runs to keep his team in the hunt. Prakhar Sharma and Abhishek also chipped in with a wicket each.
Brief Scores:
Vidarbha: 186 & 247/5 in 84 overs (Kush Sharma 112, Malhar Dhurad 45*, Gaurav 37; Jatin Saini 3-36, Prakhar Sharma 1-38, Abhishek 1-40).
Rajasthan: 398 in 101.5 overs (Jatin Saini 127, Aditay Saini 57, Kushagra Ojha 53, Rajat Baghel 41, Rakshit Lunawat 38, Naved Khan 32; Sarthak Dhabadgaonkar 3-75, Iknoor 2-84).
