Shillong, Jan 9: Pace bowler and captain Akash Kumar claimed seven wickets as Meghalaya dismissed Bihar for just 151 on the first day of their U-23 Col CK Nayudu Trophy plate group match at the MCA Cricket Ground here today.
However, Meghalaya were then reduced to 47/6 at stumps, trailing by 104 runs.
Bihar won the toss and chose to bat first in Shillong, but Kumar ripped through the top and middle order to claim 7/68 in a successful day for the skipper. Kartik Pawar bagged 2/15 and Salman 1/15 as well.
This is the second time that Kumar has taken seven wickets in an innings; he first did so against Nagaland (7/33) in November in a game that also took place in Shillong.
Bihar would have been dismissed for even fewer runs except for the rescue effort put in by Shabbir Khan, who made an entertaining 61 not out off 74 balls, which included 13 fours.
Three Meghalaya wickets then fell for just eight runs on the board before Kenny (26) and Rohit Shah (11) stopped the rot, but they were also dismissed before stumps.
U-19 COOCH BEHAR TROPHY
Meanwhile, Meghalaya were defeated by 352 runs at the hands of Nagaland on the third day of their U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy plate group match in Jorhat today.
Nagaland resumed play today on 283/5 in their second innings, 371 ahead of Meghalaya. Nagaland had made 188 all out in their first innings, following which Meghalaya were dismissed for 100.
Today Nagaland added another 80 runs before declaring their second innings for 363/8.
That gave Meghalaya a huge target of 452 to win, but, unfortunately, they could not come close, having been bowled out for 99. Raghav Kapur was again the top scorer for Meghalaya, ending on 30 not out. He had made 44 in the first innings.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association file photo of Akash Kumar bowling)
