Rituraj Sharma's Heroic Knock Secures Uttar Pradesh's Victory in U-23 Trophy Clash
In a thrilling encounter at Green Park in Kanpur, Rituraj Sharma's valiant unbeaten innings of 63 runs propelled Uttar Pradesh to a hard-fought five-wicket triumph over Chandigarh in the U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy pool league match on Sunday. The victory keeps UP firmly in contention for knockout qualification as they wrapped up the match on the third day.
Early Struggles and a Tense Chase
After establishing a commanding first-innings lead of 90 runs, Uttar Pradesh dismissed Chandigarh for 185 in their second innings, setting a modest target of 96 runs. What initially seemed like a straightforward chase quickly turned tense as Chandigarh's bowlers struck early blows, leaving UP reeling at 55 for five.
Chandigarh's bowling attack was led by left-arm orthodox spinner Nishunk Birla, who continued his impressive form after claiming nine wickets in UP's first innings. Birla dismissed openers Adarsh Singh (8) and Kavya Teotia (5), while Jaskirat Singh removed Siddharth Chaudhary (0) and Ali Zafir Mohsin (1). Ivraj Ranauta added to UP's woes by taking the wicket of Arjun Kumar Singh (9).
Rituraj Sharma's Steadying Influence
Amid the pressure, Rituraj Sharma emerged as the anchor for Uttar Pradesh. Walking in after the fall of Siddharth Chaudhary, Sharma stood firm at one end, displaying remarkable composure. He found reliable support in Kaartikaya Singh, and together they calmly added the remaining 44 runs required for victory.
Kaartikaya Singh sealed the win with a boundary off Arnav Bansal, while Rituraj Sharma remained unbeaten on 63 off 95 balls. His innings included seven boundaries and two sixes, showcasing a blend of patience and aggression. Kaartikaya Singh finished not out on 12 from 61 deliveries, providing crucial stability in the partnership.
Chandigarh's Second Innings and Bowling Highlights
Earlier in the match, Chandigarh resumed their second innings at an overnight score of 78 for three. They added 107 runs before losing their remaining seven wickets. Overnight batsmen Ivraj Ranauta and Aarush Bhandari built a vital 48-run partnership for the fourth wicket in 110 balls on a turning track, marking the best stand of the innings.
Chandigarh soon slumped to 140 for nine, but the last-wicket pair of Jaskirat Singh and Aryun Duggal offered resistance with a 45-run partnership. Shubham Mishra broke the stand by dismissing Duggal for 13, while Jaskirat remained unbeaten on 30, which included six boundaries.
For Uttar Pradesh, the bowling effort was spearheaded by Shubham Mishra and Vijay Kumar, who claimed four wickets each, while Akshu Bajwa picked up two wickets. Despite Chandigarh's defeat, the match proved memorable for Nishunk Birla, who finished with a remarkable haul of 11 wickets in the match, including nine in the first innings.
Coach's Perspective and Qualification Prospects
UP coach Gyanendra Pandey expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, highlighting the resilience shown in the chase. Speaking about qualification prospects, he noted that UP had accumulated 52 points, though the final position would become clear after the remaining teams completed their last matches.
Brief scores: Chandigarh 1st innings: 175 and 2nd innings: 185 (Dushyant 45, Ivraj Ranauta 25, Aarush Bhandari 20, Devang Kasushik 19, Jaskirat Singh 30; Vijay Kumar 4/44, Akshu Bajwa 2/48, Shubham Mishra 4/56). Uttar Pradesh 1st innings: 260 and 2nd innings: 5/99 (Rituraj Sharma 63; Nishunk Birla 2/46, Jaskirat Singh 2/32).
