Uttar Pradesh's young cricketers displayed immense character to pull off a remarkable escape, forcing a draw against a dominant Rajasthan side in their Cooch Behar Trophy (Under-19) pool match at Kanpur's Solitaire Cricket Ground on Saturday. The result, however, was enough for Rajasthan to advance to the quarterfinals by virtue of their massive first-innings lead.
Rajasthan's Batting Onslaught Sets Up Dominant Position
Resuming their first innings on the final day at an already commanding 450 for 5, Rajasthan batters went for quick runs. The highlight was skipper Naved Khan, who added 17 runs to his overnight score before being dismissed for a magnificent 183 off just 228 balls. His blistering knock, studded with 18 fours and eight sixes, powered Rajasthan to a declaration at 494 for 9. This gave them a colossal lead of 316 runs over UP's first-innings total of 178.
UP's Top-Order Collapse and the Great Escape
Facing the daunting task of batting out the entire day to save the match, Uttar Pradesh's second innings began disastrously. Medium pacer Honey Pratap Singh wreaked havoc, rattling the top order with three quick wickets. At 45 for 5, an outright defeat seemed a mere formality for the hosts.
However, Bhavi Sharma and Yuvraj rose to the occasion with a counter-attacking partnership that changed the game's complexion. The duo added a vital 99 runs, with Bhavi scoring a confident 58 and Yuvraj contributing 46. Their resistance was finally broken by Jatin, who took both their wickets.
The Final Stand That Sealed the Draw
With Rajasthan pressing hard for the remaining wickets, the pair of K Krishna and Aditya Kumar Singh displayed remarkable grit and determination. They occupied the crease for nearly 14 overs, adding an unbeaten 19 runs for the eighth wicket and, more importantly, consuming around 82 deliveries. Their dogged stand ultimately ran down the clock, forcing Rajasthan to settle for a draw as UP finished at 166 for 7.
Brief Scores:
- Uttar Pradesh: 178 & 166/7 (Bhavi Sharma 58, Yuvraj 46; Honey Pratap Singh 4/27, Jatin 3/45).
- Rajasthan: 494/9 declared (Naved Khan 183, Rajat Singh Baghel 171, Kushagra Ojha 48; Aditya Kumar Singh 4/88).
