Shillong, Nov 21: Aaryavir Sehwag, son of the Indian great Virender Sehwag, hit an unbeaten double century as Delhi took full control against Meghalaya on the second day of their U-19 men’s Cooch Behar Trophy Elite Group A match at the MCA Ground in Polo here today.
At stumps Delhi were 468/2, holding a lead of 208 after Meghalaya were all out in their first innings for 260. Aaryavir, who opened the batting, was not out on exactly 200, while his partner at the other end, Dhanya Nakra, was not out on 98. Arnav Bugga, Delhi’s other opening batter, also hit a century and was out for 114.
Meghalaya captain Dipankar Baruah rotated his bowlers around throughout the day but the pitch played well and Delhi’s batters thoroughly enjoyed the conditions.
Arnav played plenty of shots, with boundaries on both sides of the wicket before being bowled by Rudra Singh Rathore (1/34 in 6 overs). Vansh Jetley (43) was the only other wicket to fall in the visitors’ first innings today. He had been dropped in the 30s but did not add too many more before he mistimed a pull shot and was caught at midwicket by Gaurav Narleng off the bowling of Kshitij Singhania (1/82 in 13).
With the scoreboard reading 280, Delhi had already overtaken Meghalaya’s first innings total by the time Vansh fell but Aaryavir and Dhanya continued to add to the home team’s pain as they made 188 together in an unbeaten third wicket stand. They hit at least one boundary almost every over, with Aaryavir racking up 34 fours and two sixes, while Dhanya struck 15 fours and two sixes.
Comparisons to his illustrious father are inevitable but Aaryavir undoubtedly stole the show today with his fine batting, demonstrating an attractive array of shots around the ground and an attacking yet prudent style. He brought up his century with a gentle push down the ground for four and took a sensible single to reach his double ton.
Earlier, Meghalaya added 21 runs to their overnight score of 239/7. Kshitij was not out yesterday on 52 and reached 62 before being bowled by Udhav Mohan (4/88), while Angkit Tamang, who resumed on 22 not out, was dismissed after adding a further 7 runs.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association photo. Delhi’s Aaryavir Sehwag raises his bat on reaching a double century)