MPCA batsman make hay

Propped up by useful knocks from Ashutosh Singh (77 no) and Shubham Sharma (64),Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) got off to a wonderful start against hosts Punjab on the first day of the final match,scoring 257 for 4 in 93 overs 2 nd All India U-19 Invitation cricket tournament for Dhruv Pandove Trophy being played at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium in Patiala. Winning the toss. MPCA skipper Shubham Sharma decided to bat first. MPCA openers,Mukul Raghav and Atul Tiwari,tackled the Punjab pacers well and notced-up 44 runs within first 10 overs. Amritpal Singh struck the first blow for Punjab when he removed Mukul Raghav for 36 runs. Thereafter,Atul Tiwari and skipper Shubham Sharma put on 52 runs for the second wicket. Amritpal struck twice after that,to get Atul Tiwari (27) and Abhishek Bhandari (0) out. The MPCA innings was then buoyed by Ashutosh Singh and Shubham Sharma who added 66 runs for the fourth wicket. It was then Shubham Sharma turn to go,Punjab off-spinner fooled the MPCA batsman in the flight and clean bowled him for 64 runs. The MPCA total at this stage was 164 for 4 in 48.2 overs.

After that,Ashutosh Singh and Anuj Kumar batted with great aplomb negotiating both spin and pace attack with ease and contributed with 93 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket stand to take the team’s total to 257 for the loss of four wickets. Ashutosh’s unbeaten knock of 77 runs came off 199 deliveries while Anuj Kumar was unbeaten on 48 runs off 151 balls. Punjab spinners toiled hard but only a lone success came their way during the days proceedings. The spinners bowled 66 overs between them. Amritpal Singh was the most successful bowler for Punjab with a haul of three wickets for 98.

Brief Scores: MPCA: 257 FOR 4 in 93 overs (Ashutosh Singh 77 no,Shubham Sharma 64,Mukul Raghav 36,Atul Tiwari 27,,Anuj Kumar 48 no,Amritpal Singh 3 for 98,Abhilash Sharma 1 for 53).