Shillong: Meghalaya were dismissed for 178 in their first innings on the opening day of the U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group A match against Baroda at the MCA Ground, Polo. Baroda ended the day firmly in control, reaching 55 for no loss, trailing by 123 runs with all wickets intact.
Opting to bat first, Meghalaya endured a shaky start and relied heavily on contributions from their lower order. Fast bowler Shavian Blah led the charge with an attacking 52 off 57 balls, including seven boundaries and a six. Angkit Tamang added resilience with an unbeaten 33 off 111 deliveries, while No. 10 Ashish Kumar Lohar chipped in with a quick 25 off 35 balls.
The innings started cautiously, with openers Shubham Rasaily and Manthan Dey surviving the initial burst. However, the partnership ended shortly after, triggering a steady fall of wickets. Kshitij Singhania’s 22 from 48 balls offered brief resistance, but Baroda’s bowlers maintained control throughout the innings.
Baroda’s Pavan Patel was the pick of the bowlers, delivering a marathon spell of 23 overs to claim 4/58, effectively dismantling Meghalaya’s batting lineup.
Baroda’s reply was solid, with openers Nitya J Pandya (40 not out) and Smit Rathva (13 not out) navigating the final 16 overs of the day without any trouble. With the pitch easing up for batting, Baroda look well-positioned to extend their unbeaten streak and push for a commanding lead on day two.
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