*Kanhaiya, Musaif salvage J&K’s sinking ship
Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 15: After scoring superb half-century (50) in J&K’s first innings modest total of 148 runs, promising left-arm spinner Sampark Gupta captured 8 important wickets, equalling 8 wickets taken by right-arm off spinner, Mahesh Pithiya of Baroda in the ongoing match of Cooch Behar Under-19 Trophy at GGM Science College Hostel ground, here today.
However, after restricting Jammu and Kashmir at 148 runs in their first innings on a track that assisted spinners like anything or in other words spinning paradise, Baroda scored 218 runs in their first essay to gain a vital first innings lead of 70 runs.
Jammu and Kashmir at one point of time were struggling at 52/3 in their second innings, when the dependable duo of skipper Kanhaiya Wadhawan (45*) and Musaif Ajaz (29*) made a valuable partnership of 60 runs and took the score to 112/3 at the draw of stumps on day-3 of the 4-day match today.
Earlier, resuming from an overnight total of 128/7, Jammu and Kashmir were bundled out for 148 runs. Sampark Gupta, who was unbeaten on 47 runs overnight, was dismissed on 50 off 92 balls, studded with 5 fours and 2 sixes.
From Baroda, Mahesh Pithiya was the pick of the bowlers, who took 8 important wickets by conceding 50 runs in his 26 overs, while Malhar Ghevaria took 2 wickets.
In reply, Baroda began on a disastrous note, losing first two wickets for 7 runs within four overs as opener DR Panday and number-3 batsman Ansh Patel were sent back by lethal Sampark. However, another opener Lakshyajeet (47) and Atharav Karulkar (44) took the score to 95 runs, before Sampark scalped another victim in the form of Karulkar. Then useful knocks by Baroda’s star performer Mahesh Pithiya (55) and Ashutosh Das (35) down the order helped Baroda to score 218 runs and gain first innings lead. From J&K, Sampark took 8 wickets by giving away 86 runs in his 23 overs, while Marutwan and Abhay claimed one wicket each by conceding 49 and 33 runs in their 9 and 10.2 overs respectively.
Jammu and Kashmir were 112/3 in their second essay, thus having a lead of 42 runs with 7 wickets in their hand. After losing 2 quick wickets in the form of opener Mohammad Manzir (5) and Tullah Ashraf (5) at 16/2, another opener, Dikshant Kundal (20) and Kanhaiya Wadhawan took the score to 52 runs before Dikshant was dismissed in 20th over. Then Kanhaiya and Musaif came to the rescue of J&K innings. From Baroda, first innings hero, both with the ball and the willow, Mahesh Pithiya took 2 wickets by giving away 14 runs in his 12 overs, while Malhar Grevaria claimed one wicket.
One gets a feeling that the match is almost equally poised at this stage as Jammu and Kashmir has already 42 runs in their pocket and 7 wickets in hand. With Baroda to bat in the fourth innings of the match on the track where spinners spit venom, the final day’s game will be a delight to watch.
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