The Rajasthan Under-19 team produced a disciplined bowling performance to take control on the second day of their Cooch Behar Trophy Elite pre-quarterfinal clash against Uttar Pradesh. The action unfolded at the Solitaire Cricket Ground in Saharanpur on Thursday, where Rajasthan's bowlers set the stage before their batters began a cautious reply.
Rajasthan Bowlers Dominate First Innings
After winning the toss, Rajasthan captain Kushagra Ojha made the strategic decision to field first. His bowlers vindicated his call by bundling out the Uttar Pradesh batting lineup for a modest total of 178 runs in 52.5 overs. The innings was built around a fighting 48 from Kaartikaya Singh, with contributions from Bhavy Goyal (28), Shantanu Singh (26), Yuvraj (20), and Aayan Akram (19).
The star with the ball for Rajasthan was Karn, who delivered a magnificent spell to claim 4 wickets for just 21 runs. He received excellent support from the seam attack. Honey Pratap Singh picked up 3 crucial wickets for 53 runs, while Prakhar Sharma chipped in with 2 wickets for 26 runs. Ketan Dewasi also contributed with a wicket.
Cautious Start to Rajasthan's Reply
Facing a target of 179, Rajasthan's openers walked out with a plan to see off the new ball and build a foundation. However, they lost two early wickets, putting pressure on the middle order. At the close of play on Day 2, Rajasthan had reached 50 runs for the loss of 2 wickets from 14 overs.
The not-out batsmen at the crease were Rajat Baghel on 13 and Jatin Saini on 9. They will resume the innings on the third day with their team still trailing by 128 runs. Opener Kavish Ghunawat (14) and Deepesh (10) were the batters dismissed, with Aayan Akram and Aditya Kumar Singh taking a wicket each for Uttar Pradesh.
The Stakes and The Road Ahead
With eight wickets still in hand, Rajasthan finds itself in a strong position to build a significant first-innings lead. The match hangs in a delicate balance as Uttar Pradesh will look to strike early on the third day to expose Rajasthan's lower order. The outcome of this pre-quarterfinal is crucial, as the winner advances further in the prestigious Cooch Behar Under-19 Trophy.
The brief scores at the end of Day 2 are: Uttar Pradesh 1st Innings: 178 all out (Kaartikaya Singh 48; Karn 4-21, Honey Pratap Singh 3-53). Rajasthan 1st Innings: 50/2 in 14 overs (Kavish Ghunawat 14, Rajat Baghel 13*; Aayan Akram 1-10).
