On Thursday, Rajasthan's U-14 cricket team faced a tough opening day in the Raj Singh Dungarpur Trophy. They were bowled out for a modest total of 213 runs against Chhattisgarh in Indore.
Rajasthan's Batting Struggles
Utsav Sharma led Rajasthan's batting effort with a solid 47 runs. He narrowly missed his half-century, falling just three runs short. Other players contributed valuable runs to push the score past 200.
Key Contributors for Rajasthan
- Abhimanyu Choudhary remained not out on 36 runs.
- Anmol Sharma scored 29 runs.
- Divyanshu Dhatarwal added 27 runs.
- Gaurav Poonia made 19 runs.
Despite these efforts, the team could not build a bigger total. Chhattisgarh's bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals.
Chhattisgarh's Bowling Dominance
Harsh Shahu emerged as the star bowler for Chhattisgarh. He claimed four wickets for 48 runs, putting Rajasthan under constant pressure. His performance was crucial in restricting the opposition to 213.
Chhattisgarh's Strong Reply
In response, Chhattisgarh made a confident start to their innings. They ended the first day at 102 for the loss of just two wickets. This puts them in a strong position to take the first innings lead.
Rajasthan's Bowling Efforts
Rajasthan managed to take two wickets during Chhattisgarh's innings. Lovemeet Gurjar and Gaurav Poonia each claimed one wicket. However, Chhattisgarh's batsmen handled the bowling attack well, keeping their team on track.
Tournament Context
The Raj Singh Dungarpur Trophy is an annual Central Zone tournament for U-14 teams. Besides Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, hosts Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, and Railways are also participating this year. The competition provides young cricketers with valuable experience at a competitive level.
Chhattisgarh now needs 113 more runs to secure the first innings lead. They have eight wickets remaining, giving them a clear advantage heading into the second day. Rajasthan will aim to strike early and put pressure on the batting side.
