Uttar Pradesh Builds Commanding Lead in U-23 Trophy Clash
In a gripping Day Two of the U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy encounter at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium, Uttar Pradesh secured a vital 90-run first-innings lead against Chandigarh on Saturday. The match was marked by a heroic rescue partnership and a stunning individual bowling performance that kept the contest alive.
Teotia and Bajwa Forge Crucial Partnership
Resuming from their overnight score of 46 for 3, Uttar Pradesh faced early turmoil as Chandigarh's left-arm spinner Nishunk Birla struck repeatedly. The hosts lost wickets in quick succession, collapsing to 93 for 5 and then 105 for 7, seemingly on the brink of disaster.
At this critical juncture, Kavya Teotia, holding firm at one end, was joined by Akshu Bajwa. The duo initially focused on survival against Birla's relentless attack before launching a counter-offensive against the other bowlers. They stitched together a magnificent 129-run partnership for the eighth wicket off just 169 balls, completely shifting the momentum.
Akshu Bajwa played the more aggressive role, contributing 70 runs to the stand. The partnership was finally broken when Arnav Bhandari held a sharp catch at slip off Birla's bowling to dismiss Teotia for 99, agonizingly one run short of a well-deserved century. Uttar Pradesh were then firmly in command at 234 for 8.
Birla's Career-Best Spell Shines Amidst Defeat
Despite Uttar Pradesh's recovery, the standout performer of the day was undoubtedly Chandigarh's Nishunk Birla. The left-arm spinner produced a career-best spell, claiming nine wickets for 110 runs in a marathon 34.1 overs across four spells. His figures included wickets taken in clusters: 2, 4, 0, and 3 in his respective spells.
Soon after breaking the Teotia-Bajwa stand, Birla dismissed Akshu Bajwa, who skied a catch to Jaskirat Singh at short mid-wicket. In the very next over, he removed Vijay Kumar (1) as well, who attempted an ambitious stroke. Birla's heroic effort restricted Uttar Pradesh but could not prevent them from securing a significant lead.
Chandigarh's Uphill Battle in Second Innings
Replying to Uttar Pradesh's first-innings total, Chandigarh faced an uphill battle in their second innings. They lost Arnav Bansal early in the third over for just 5 runs. Raghav Verma and Dushyant then tried to steady the innings, adding 48 runs before the partnership was broken.
First-innings hero Akshu Bajwa turned his attention to bowling, dismissing Raghav Verma for 13. Shubham Mishra accounted for Nikhil (1), with wicketkeeper Kartikeya Singh taking the catch. Towards the end of the day, Akshu struck again to remove Dushyant, who scored a fighting 45 off 63 balls, including seven boundaries and a six. Kartikeya Singh completed the catch behind the stumps.
At stumps on Day Two, Chandigarh reached 78 for 4 in their second innings, still trailing by 12 runs with six wickets in hand. Ivraj Ranauta (3) and Aarush Bhandari (5) were at the crease, facing a daunting task to overcome the deficit.
Coach Pandey Praises Fighting Spirit
Uttar Pradesh coach Gyanendra Pandey lauded the efforts of Teotia and Bajwa, acknowledging their crucial partnership that turned the game. He termed it unfortunate that both batsmen were dismissed in the nineties, just short of landmark centuries, but emphasized the importance of their contribution to the team's position.
The match now heads into Day Three with Uttar Pradesh firmly in the driver's seat, but Chandigarh's fighting spirit and Birla's exceptional performance ensure that the contest remains intriguingly poised.
