In a display of grit and determination, the Vidarbha Under-16 cricket team secured a remarkable four-wicket victory over Uttar Pradesh in their Vijay Merchant Trophy encounter. The match, which concluded on Saturday at the KSCA Ground No. 2 in Kanpur, saw Vidarbha overcome a first-innings deficit to clinch the win on the final day.
Bowlers Set the Stage for Dramatic Turnaround
Facing a challenging scenario after trailing by 35 runs from the first innings, Vidarbha's victory was firmly built on a superb bowling performance. They bundled out Uttar Pradesh for a mere 112 runs in their second innings. The damage was done early on the final day, as UP, resuming at an overnight score of 78 for five, lost their last five wickets for just 40 runs.
Leading the charge with the ball was Om Dhotre, who was virtually unplayable. He claimed four of the five wickets that fell on Saturday, finishing the innings with exceptional figures. His match haul of nine wickets, including a seven-wicket burst in the second innings, dismantled the UP batting lineup. For the hosts, only Anay Awasthi offered some resistance, remaining not out on 15.
Malhar Dhurad's Composed Knock Seals the Deal
Chasing a modest target of 148 runs, Vidarbha's innings did not start smoothly. The UP bowlers, led by Prithviraj Singh and Rudra Sharma, made early inroads, reducing Vidarbha to 47 for four. However, the chase was masterfully anchored by Malhar Dhurad, who played a match-winning, unbeaten knock of 74 runs off 111 balls.
Displaying remarkable patience and maturity for his age, Dhurad's innings was studded with 10 boundaries. He first steadied the ship with a crucial 40-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Nirmik Charde, who contributed 18. After Charde's dismissal, Dhurad found another reliable partner in Veer Chikhalkar. Together, they forged an unbroken 41-run stand for the seventh wicket to guide their team home. Chikhalkar played a brisk cameo, scoring 20 not out from just 20 balls, hitting four boundaries in the process.
Brief Scores and Match Summary
Uttar Pradesh: 207 & 112 all out (Hitesh Kumar 22, Krishna Kumar 30; Om Dhotre 7/20, Kush Sharma 3/44).
Vidarbha: 172 & 150/6 (Malhar Dhurad 74*, Veer Chikhalkar 20*; Prithviraj Singh 3/68, Rudra Sharma 2/40).
The result highlights a significant team effort from Vidarbha. While Dhotre's bowling set up the victory, it was Dhurad's calmness under pressure that ultimately saw them cross the finish line. This win will serve as a massive confidence booster for the young Vidarbha side in the national tournament.
