Kerala's Lower Order Dominates Uttar Pradesh in Ranji Trophy

Kerala’s Lower Order Dominates Uttar Pradesh in Ranji Trophy

Kerala’s gritty lower-order batting, led by captain Sachin Baby and Salman Nizar, put them in a commanding position against Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match at the KCA-St. Xavier’s College ground.

After resuming on 105 for four, Kerala lost Baba Aparajith and Aditya Sarwate cheaply to Uttar Pradesh’s left-arm spinner Shivam Sharma. However, Baby and Akshay Chandran steadied the innings with a 63-run stand for the fifth wicket.

When Chandran fell, Baby found an ideal ally in Nizar, who curbed his natural flamboyance to play a patient innings. The duo navigated the challenging track, using the depth of the crease and stepping out to loft the ball over the infield.

Baby and Nizar’s 99-run partnership for the sixth wicket put Kerala in control. Baby eventually fell for 83, trapped in front by Shivam Mavi, but Jalaj Saxena continued the resistance with a fluent 35.

Nizar remained unbeaten on 74, hitting sixes and fours off leg spinner Piyush Chawla to signal Kerala’s intent for the third day. Mohammed Azharuddeen also contributed with an unbeaten 11, ensuring Kerala reached 340 for seven at stumps.

Uttar Pradesh’s bowlers toiled hard, with Shivam Sharma taking two wickets and Saurabh Kumar, Aaqib Khan, and Chawla claiming one each. However, Kerala’s lower-order resilience proved too much to overcome.

Rain Threatens Ranji Trophy Clash Between Kerala and Uttar Pradesh

Rain Threatens Ranji Trophy Clash Between Kerala and Uttar Pradesh

The Ranji Trophy Elite Group C encounter between Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, scheduled to commence on Wednesday at the St. Xavier’s College ground, faces the threat of rain. Heavy downpours have already forced the cancellation of the visitor’s nets session on Monday. While both teams managed to squeeze in some practice on Tuesday morning, the evening’s heavy rainfall has cast a shadow of doubt over the match’s timely start.

Rain has been a persistent obstacle in Kerala’s recent matches. Nearly five sessions of play were washed out in their encounter with Punjab at the same venue three weeks ago. Despite their comprehensive victory over Punjab, rain affected Kerala’s away matches against Karnataka and Bengal, resulting in draws.

Kerala’s captain, Sachin Baby, has indicated that the team will rely on its strength at home, particularly its spin troika of Jalaj Saxena, Aditya Sarwate, and B. Aparajith. The lower-order fightback led by Saxena and Salman Nizar in the drawn encounter against Bengal has been a positive sign for Kerala. With Mohammed Azharuddeen finding form, the team will hope for contributions from its other top-order batters against Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh, on the other hand, showed signs of hitting their stride against Punjab. Nitish Rana and Madhav Kaushik scored runs, while key bowlers like Shivam Mavi had a good outing with the ball. However, the visitor will miss Rinku Singh, who is away on India duty. Despite this absence, Uttar Pradesh has enough depth in its batting to overcome Rinku’s loss.

Captain Aryan Juyal may consider playing veteran leg spinner Piyush Chawla given the venue’s propensity to favor tweakers. Saurabh Kumar and Shivam Sharma are the two spin-bowling all-rounders in the side, and Kerala will have its task cut out against one of the better-balanced teams in the group.

Easwaran's Century, Garg's Grit Secure Draw for Bengal, U.P.

Easwaran’s Century, Garg’s Grit Secure Draw for Bengal, U.P.

Abhimanyu Easwaran’s remarkable form continued as he notched up his 27th First-class century, guiding Bengal to a draw against Uttar Pradesh in their Ranji Trophy encounter. Resuming the final day at 78, Easwaran reached his hundred off 140 balls, his fifth in the last nine innings. Bengal declared their second innings at 254/3, setting U.P. a challenging target of 273.

Despite a testing pitch and early setbacks, Priyam Garg’s gritty century ensured the hosts held on for a draw. Bengal earned three points for their first-innings lead, while Uttar Pradesh settled for one.

U.P.’s pacers struggled to generate movement from the pitch, allowing Easwaran and Sudip Chatterjee to extend their opening partnership. Easwaran displayed composure, surviving a close lbw shout before reaching his century. Chatterjee fell for 93, but Easwaran accelerated, scoring at nearly a run-a-ball to stretch Bengal’s lead.

Bengal declared just before lunch, hoping to force a result. However, U.P.’s resistance proved stubborn. Mukesh Kumar trapped Aryan Juyal lbw early, but Garg took charge, guiding U.P. out of trouble. Despite multiple blows, Garg displayed resilience, fending off Mukesh Kumar’s bouncers and keeping the scoreboard ticking.

As wickets fell around him, Garg remained U.P.’s stronghold, bringing up his hundred off 142 balls. His battling innings ensured that U.P. finished at 162 for six, forcing Bengal to settle for a draw.

Bengal Openers Put Team in Driver's Seat Against Uttar Pradesh

Bengal Openers Put Team in Driver’s Seat Against Uttar Pradesh

Bengal’s openers, Sudip Chatterjee and Abhimanyu Easwaran, put the team in a commanding position in their Ranji Trophy Group A clash against Uttar Pradesh. After Bengal gained a 19-run first-innings lead, Chatterjee and Easwaran capitalized on the momentum, guiding their side to a comfortable 141 for no loss at the end of Day 3.

Chatterjee, who scored a gritty 116 in Bengal’s first innings, continued his impressive form with an unbeaten 59. The left-hander displayed resilience and technique, particularly under fading light conditions. Easwaran, who had struggled in the first innings, returned to form with an unbeaten 78. The stylish right-hander, who has been in contention for a reserve opener spot for India’s tour of Australia, played with patience and composure, hitting seven well-timed boundaries.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh resumed their innings at 206/3, looking to overhaul Bengal’s total of 311. However, Bengal’s India pacer Mukesh Kumar bowled a fiery spell, triggering a collapse as UP lost seven wickets for just 94. Kumar finished with figures of 4/43, while Shahbaz Ahmed claimed 4/96.

The only resistance for UP came from Siddarth Yadav, who played a fighting knock of 73 off 127 balls. Yadav launched a counter-attack, smashing three sixes and six boundaries to help UP cross the 250-mark and reduce Bengal’s first-innings lead.

With Bengal holding a 160-run lead and a full day’s play remaining, they are in a strong position to secure a victory. The match will resume on Monday, with Bengal looking to extend their lead and put pressure on Uttar Pradesh.

Aryan Juyal's Unconquered 90 Leads Uttar Pradesh Fightback

Aryan Juyal’s Unconquered 90 Leads Uttar Pradesh Fightback

Young Uttar Pradesh skipper Aryan Juyal led a spirited fightback with an unbeaten 90, guiding his team to 198 for three in response to Bengal’s 311 on Day 2 of their Ranji Trophy Group C clash.

The 22-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who has represented India Under-19 and was part of the Mumbai Indians setup, showcased his technical proficiency throughout the innings. He faced 195 deliveries and struck eight boundaries, anchoring the Uttar Pradesh innings as they trailed by 113 runs.

Juyal formed a solid 83-run opening partnership with Swastik Chikara (41), giving Uttar Pradesh a strong start. Known for his preference to play on the offside, Juyal was circumspect yet controlled, playing with maturity on both sides of the wicket. He displayed excellent footwork to counter Bengal’s spin duo of Shahbaz Ahmed and off-spinner Writtick Chatterjee.

Bengal struck back, with left-arm spinner Shahbaz breaking the stand by trapping Chikara lbw. Mohammed Kaif, the younger brother of India pacer Mohammed Shami, then had Priyam Garg (2) trapped lbw, reducing UP to 86/2 as they lost two wickets for just three runs.

However, Juyal found able support from Kolkata Knight Riders vice-captain Nitish Rana, who played an attacking knock of 32 off 59 balls, studded with three boundaries. The pair added 69 crucial runs for the third wicket before Shahbaz returned to dismiss Rana lbw early in his second spell.

Siddarth Yadav (20 batting) then stood firm alongside his skipper, as the duo saw out the remainder of the day’s play before bad light stopped play after 64 overs.

Shahbaz was the most threatening bowler, shouldering the bulk of the bowling workload. He returned figures of 2/47 from 21 overs, maintaining pressure on the Uttar Pradesh batters. Kaif also impressed, claiming 1/23 from his 12 overs. Writtick, despite bowling 12 overs, remained wicketless and conceded 54 runs.

Earlier in the day, Bengal resumed their innings at 269/7, with Shahbaz contributing a vital 44 from 80 balls to help Bengal cross the 300-run mark. Rising left-arm pacer Yash Dayal, who was part of the Test squad against Bangladesh, returned to action after a niggle, was exceptional with the ball, finishing with figures of 4/27. Debutant off-spinner Vipraj Nigam also impressed, claiming 4/81 as Bengal innings lasted 14.2 overs on day two to be bowled out in 96.2 overs.

Raj Kumar Pal's Olympic Bronze: A Journey of Adversity and Triumph

Raj Kumar Pal’s Olympic Bronze: A Journey of Adversity and Triumph

Raj Kumar Pal’s Olympic bronze medal has brought immense joy and recognition to his humble village of Karampur in Uttar Pradesh. The 26-year-old hockey player’s journey to the podium has been marked by adversity, determination, and the unwavering support of his family and mentors.

Growing up in a mud house, Raj Kumar’s family faced financial hardship after his father’s untimely demise. Hockey, which had been a passion for the three brothers, took a backseat as they struggled to make ends meet. However, Raj Kumar’s talent and dedication caught the attention of Tej Bahadur Singh, owner of the Karampur hockey academy.

Tej Bahadur provided financial support to the Pal family for two years, enabling Raj Kumar to pursue his hockey dreams. With the support of his brothers, who secured jobs in the Army and Railways, Raj Kumar was able to focus solely on his game.

In 2012, Raj Kumar was selected for the Sports Authority of India’s Regional Centre in Lucknow. His impressive performances in domestic tournaments caught the eye of former Hockey India high performance director David John, who selected him for the senior national development camp in 2017.

Despite not making the Tokyo Olympics squad, Raj Kumar remained determined to improve his game. He identified his weaknesses and worked tirelessly to address them. His efforts paid off when he was selected for the Paris Olympics over more experienced seniors.

In Paris, Raj Kumar played a crucial role in India’s bronze medal victory. His attacking instincts, fitness, and stick work earned him a place in the starting lineup alongside Shamsher Singh and Gurjant Singh. He was particularly impressive in the quarter-final against Great Britain, scoring the winning goal in the shootout.

Raj Kumar’s Olympic medal is a testament to his hard work, perseverance, and the support of his family and mentors. It is a source of pride for his village and an inspiration to aspiring athletes across the country.

Karnataka Dominates Day One of Col. C.K. Nayudu Final with 325 Runs

Karnataka Dominates Day One of Col. C.K. Nayudu Final with 325 Runs

Karnataka’s batting lineup showcased resilience and determination on the opening day of the Col. C.K. Nayudu (U-23) Trophy final against Uttar Pradesh, amassing a formidable 325 runs for the loss of five wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Middle-order batsman Yashovardhan Parantap emerged as the star performer, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 84 runs off 111 deliveries, studded with 12 boundaries. His crucial partnership with Kruthik Krishna (58 not out off 103 balls, 5 fours) for the sixth wicket, worth an unbroken 131 runs, propelled Karnataka to a commanding position.

The home team’s innings got off to a solid start as openers MacNeil H. Noronha (68 off 135 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) and Prakar Chaturvedi (33 off 69 balls, 4 fours) put on a 68-run stand. Noronha continued his impressive form, adding 73 runs with K.V. Aneesh (43 off 76 balls, 3 fours).

However, a middle-order collapse saw Karnataka lose three wickets for just 21 runs, including that of captain R. Smaran. The hosts were in danger of losing momentum, but Parantap and Krishna stepped up to the plate.

Parantap, known for his solid technique and ability to play long innings, held the innings together with his composed batting. He found an able ally in Krishna, who played a patient and supportive role. The duo rotated the strike effectively, punished loose deliveries, and gradually rebuilt Karnataka’s innings.

As the day drew to a close, Karnataka had established a strong foundation for the remainder of the match. With Parantap and Krishna still at the crease and the lower order yet to come, the home team will be confident of posting a challenging total.

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