da spicy bet： In the two Vijay Merchant Trophy (Under-16) West Zone league matches onSaturday, Saurashtra and Mumbai scored impressive innings wins over Gujarat andBaroda respectively
Natarajan Sriram23-Dec-2000In the two Vijay Merchant Trophy (Under-16) West Zone league matches onSaturday, Saurashtra and Mumbai scored impressive innings wins over Gujarat andBaroda respectively.At the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad, Saurashtra won by an innings and 22runs. Opting to bat, Saurashtra scored 296 with CA Pujara (72) being the topscorer. The score was helped along by handsome contributions by opener BMChauhan (65) and skipper NR Rathod (48). AP Darji (5 for 118) and KK Fadia (3for 38) were the pick of the Gujarat bowlers.In response, Gujarat were bundled out for just 113 with S Padhiyar (5 for 43)running through the side. Opener PA Patil (23) was the top scorer for Baroda.Following on 183 run behind, Gujarat fell short by 22 runs. PA Patil was againthe chief contributor with 49 runs.In the other Under-16 match of the day at the Wankhede stadium, Mumbai werehelped to an innings and five-run win over Baroda by a fine eight wicket haul byAY Sunsura in the visitors’ second innings.Put onto bat on the first day, Mumbai declered their innings after running up amassive 408 for 7. Mumbai skipper and opener SS Thakur was the back bone of theinnings with a patient 144. Thakur shared a 151-run opening stand with SOKukreja (72). After Thakur’s dismissal R Kanojia (65 not out) ensured the team’stotal past the 400 run mark. During a 278-minute stay in the centre, Thakurfaced 227 balls while finding the signboards on 24 occasions.Baroda in their first innings were shot out for just 127 as GS Yadav (6 for 38)ran through the Baroda line up. Following on 281 runs behind, Baroda fell shortby five runs. It was the left arm spinner Arif Sunsura (8 for 67) who rose tothe occasion to bundle out the visitors.In a South Zone league match which concluded on Friday, Kerala and Karnatakaplayed out a draw at the KRL grounds in Ernakulam. Put into bat on the openingday, Karnataka scored 229. Opener DT Patil (59) was the top scorer as S Anish (5for 62) and Jerrin (3 for 58) ran through the line up. In reply, Kerala took aslender 35 run lead. Kerala owed it to the lower order batsmen after Moinuddin(4 for 71) reduced the hosts to 96 for 5. RV Gomez (47) was the top scorer forKerala.Karnataka declared their second innings at 277 for 9. The innings was heldtogether by a fine unbeaten 116 by MK Manjunath. During a 204- minute stay atthe crease, Manjunath faced 149 balls while finding the boundary ropes on 10occasions and managed to clear it thrice. Needing to score 243 for a win on thefinal day, Kerala were struggling at 132 for 6 when stumps were drawn. CM Tejas(44) was the topscorer for Kerala.