Rajasthan U-23s Secure Narrow First Innings Lead in Col CK Nayudu Trophy Clash
In a gripping encounter at the KL Saini Stadium in Jaipur, the Rajasthan U-23 cricket team managed to carve out a slender nine-run first innings lead against Odisha on the penultimate day of the Col CK Nayudu Trophy Elite match. The match, which unfolded on Sunday, saw Rajasthan's pace attack spearheaded by Ganesh Suthar and Deependra Singh, who both claimed three wickets apiece to tilt the balance in their favor.
Odisha's Valiant Chase Falls Just Short
Odisha, resuming their first innings at an overnight score of 147 for 2, added 199 runs before being bowled out for 346 in 114.5 overs. This was in reply to Rajasthan's first innings total of 355. The Odisha batting effort was anchored by a century from Sujal Singh, who played a composed knock, while Shreyansh Bhardwaj contributed a solid 77. However, the Rajasthan bowlers, led by Suthar and Deependra, kept chipping away at the wickets, with Raj Sharma also chipping in with a couple of crucial scalps.
Rajasthan's Second Innings Stumbles Early
Despite securing the first innings lead, Rajasthan faced early trouble in their second innings. At stumps on Day 3, they were tottering at 33 for 3 in just 11 overs. With only seven wickets remaining, the home team holds a precarious lead of just 42 runs. The Odisha bowlers, Soumya Lenka and Ashutosh Chhuria, made significant inroads, taking two and one wicket respectively, to keep the match finely poised heading into the final day.
Brief Scores and Match Context
The detailed scores from the match are as follows:
- Rajasthan: 355 and 33/3 in 11 overs (Rajat Baghel 17, Rohan Rajbhar 5, Raj Sharma 5*; Soumya Lenka 2-15, Ashutosh Chhuria 1-4)
- Odisha: 346 in 114.5 overs (Sujal Singh 100, Shreyansh Bhardwaj 77, Om 70, Soumya Lenka 34; Ganesh Suthar 3-57, Deependra Singh 3-67, Raj Sharma 2-15)
This match is part of the prestigious Col CK Nayudu U-23 Trophy, a key tournament for nurturing young cricketing talent in India. The outcome sets up an exciting final day, with both teams vying for crucial points in the Elite group standings.
Recent Setback for Rajasthan Senior Team
In a separate development, the senior Rajasthan Ranji Trophy team concluded their season on a disappointing note. Puducherry defeated Rajasthan by five wickets in their final match of the season. Puducherry chased down a target with 172 for 5 in 44.1 overs, thanks to contributions from R Shreeram (57) and Ajay Rohera (49*). This loss marked a tough end to Rajasthan's campaign in the premier domestic first-class competition.
