Spin Duo Akshu Bajwa and Shubham Mishra Dominate as Uttar Pradesh Take Control Against Uttarakhand
In a commanding display of spin bowling, Uttar Pradesh seized the advantage on the opening day of their Under-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy league match against Uttarakhand in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, on Friday. The spin combination of Akshu Bajwa and Shubham Mishra proved devastating, sharing nine wickets to dismantle the home team's batting lineup.
Uttarakhand's Innings: A Tale of Early Promise and Rapid Collapse
Uttarakhand, opting to bat first, made a steady start with openers Lincoln and Aditya Naithani forging a solid 58-run partnership for the first wicket. This stand represented the highest of their innings, providing a foundation that initially seemed promising. However, the breakthrough came when Shubham Mishra dismissed Lincoln for 31, caught behind after facing 69 deliveries and hitting four boundaries.
Aditya Naithani then anchored the innings, top-scoring with a patient 59 off 115 balls, which included 11 boundaries. His resistance was crucial as wickets began to tumble around him. He fell to Akshu Bajwa when the score was 101 for 2, marking the beginning of Uttarakhand's dramatic collapse.
From that point, the remaining eight batsmen could only muster 69 runs collectively, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Sanskar Rawat contributed a brisk 27 off 35 balls, featuring one boundary and three sixes, before being caught in the deep off Akshu's bowling. Akshu's other victims included:
- Harsh Rana (1)
- Utkarsh (0)
- Nishu Patel (16)
- Devansh (17)
Vijay Kumar also chipped in with one wicket, as Uttarakhand were bundled out for a modest total of 170 in their first innings. Akshu Bajwa returned impressive figures of 6 for 31, while Shubham Mishra claimed three wickets for 82 runs.
Uttar Pradesh's Response: A Cautious Start Builds Strong Position
In reply, Uttar Pradesh adopted a cautious approach, with captain Adarsh Singh and Deepak Rajput putting on 63 runs for the opening wicket. This partnership provided a solid foundation, mirroring Uttarakhand's early resistance. The breakthrough for the hosts came when medium-pacer Devansh bowled Deepak Rajput for 12.
Adarsh Singh followed soon after, caught by Lincoln off Devansh, after scoring a well-made 47 off 78 balls, which included 10 boundaries. His dismissal brought Kavya Teotia to the crease, who remained unbeaten on 24 at stumps. Nightwatchman Shubham Mishra was yet to open his account despite facing 18 deliveries.
At the close of play, Uttar Pradesh had reached 105 for 2, trailing by 65 runs with eight wickets in hand. This position places them well to secure a healthy first-innings lead, putting them in a strong position to push for victory in the match.
Coach's Perspective and Match Outlook
UP coach Gyanendra Pandey praised the bowling efforts of Akshu Bajwa and Shubham Mishra, describing their performance as "splendid." He expressed confidence that the UP batsmen would build on the strong position established on the opening day. Pandey emphasized the importance of converting this advantage into a substantial lead to enhance their chances of securing a win.
The match now hinges on Uttar Pradesh's ability to capitalize on their dominant start. With a deep batting lineup and the momentum gained from their bowling performance, they are poised to take control as the game progresses into the second day.
Brief Scores:
- Uttarakhand first innings – 170 (Lincoln 31, Aditya Naithani 59, Sanskar Rawat 27; Akshu Bajwa 6/31, Shubham Mishra 3/82)
- UP first innings – 2 for 105 (Adarsh Singh 47, Kavya Teotia 24 not out; Devansh 1/17, Dev 1/27)
