Rajasthan's young bowling attack delivered a commanding performance on Monday, bundling out Vidarbha for a modest total of 186 on the opening day of their Elite Group match in the Cooch Behar Trophy Under-18 tournament. The action unfolded at the KL Saini Stadium in Jaipur, where the home side seized early control after winning the toss.
Rajasthan's Bowling Prowess on Display
After Rajasthan skipper Kushagra Ojha won the toss and elected to field, his decision was vindicated by a disciplined bowling unit. Vidarbha, despite a reasonably steady start at 66 for 1, collapsed dramatically, losing their last nine wickets for just 120 runs. The innings concluded in the 79th over, with Vidarbha all out for 186.
The star with the ball was Jatin Saini, who returned excellent figures of 3 for 16 from his overs. He received strong support from Naved Khan (2-15) and Prakhar Sharma (2-46). Honey Pratap Singh and Abhishek also chipped in with a wicket apiece. For Vidarbha, Malhar Dhurad and Gaurav top-scored with 30 runs each, while Anand Tale and Himanshu Kawale contributed 23 apiece.
Rajasthan's Steady Start in Reply
Facing a tricky eight-over period before stumps, Rajasthan's openers walked out to begin their response. They suffered an early setback when Shifan Khan was dismissed for a duck by Vidarbha's Sarthak Dhabadgaonkar.
However, Rajat Baghel (12 not out) and vice-captain Manay Katariya (10 not out) ensured no further damage, guiding their team to 23 for 1 at the close of play on Day 1. The pair will look to build a substantial partnership when play resumes on Tuesday.
Match Context and Looking Ahead
This Elite Group fixture in the prestigious national Under-19 tournament sets the stage for an intriguing battle. Rajasthan, having dominated the first day, will aim to build a significant first-innings lead. Vidarbha's bowlers, led by Dhabadgaonkar who took the lone wicket, face an uphill task to fight their way back into the contest.
The brief scores at the end of the day's play are: Vidarbha 186 all out in 78.2 overs (Malhar Dhurad 30, Gaurav 30; Jatin Saini 3-16, Naved Khan 2-15) versus Rajasthan 23/1 in 8 overs (Rajat Baghel 12*, Manay Katariya 10*; Sarthak Dhabadgaonkar 1-7).
