Shillong, Dec 30: Half-centuries by Avinash Rai and Shavian Blah (pictured left and right) carried Meghalaya towards Nagaland’s first innings total on the second day of the U-19 men’s Cooch Behar Trophy plate group final but there is still more work to be done.
At stumps Meghalaya were 202/6 in 80 overs, 73 runs behind Nagaland’s first innings total.
Hosts Nagaland resumed play this morning on 252/7 at Sovima and added a further 23 runs before being bowled out for 275 in 101.4 overs. It was the pace pair of Shavian and Angkit Tamang who cleaned up the remaining batters, with the former finishing with 4/64 in 22.4 overs and the latter 3/47 in 30.
Meghalaya did not have the brightest of starts and were reduced to 32/3. Batting has been a challenge on this pitch but those with patience have been rewarded.
Avinash took 120 deliveries for his score of 52, which included six fours and one six. Shavian managed to score at a slightly faster rate, ending the day not out on 58 from 105 balls (9x4s). He is currently involved in a useful seventh wicket partnership with Angkit (17 not out from 89) – the pair have made 55 so far.
Both sides have not scored at more than 3 runs an over and only 16 wickets have fallen over two days. That suggests a draw is likely but Meghalaya’s first priority tomorrow morning will be to overtake Nagaland’s first innings total and they will need their overnight pair to stick around at the crease in order to do so.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association file photos)
