Buchi Babu 2023 Final: MP still has the upper hand despite a batting collapse
The Hindu
MP's batting collapse was offset by their pacers' early strikes, leaving Delhi at 59/4. Shivank Vashisht's unbeaten 44 steadied the ship, taking them to 126/4 at stumps. Siddhant Sharma and Hrithik Shokeen took 3 wickets each, while Vashisht chipped in with 3. Aman Bhadoria's 42 off 28 helped MP past 350. Delhi must make a big score to surpass MP's total on a pitch showing signs of wear.
Despite a batting collapse, Madhya Pradesh was at an advantage against Delhi at the end of day two in the Take Sports All India Buchi Babu tournament final at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground here on Saturday.
Resuming at 271 for three, MP lost it last seven wickets for just 79 runs to be bowled out for 370 at the stroke of lunch.
However, the MP pacers struck early blows to leave Delhi tottering at 59 for four at one stage before Shivank Vashisht steadied the ship with a patient unbeaten 44 to take his side to 126 for four at stumps.
Earlier, Delhi’s Siddhant Sharma (three for 53) produced an inspired spell (8-1-12-3) with the second new ball and ran through MP’s middle-order.
The left-arm pacer first had overnight batter Adheer Pratap Singh trapped leg-before with a good yorker before dismissing Rishabh Chouhan — last game’s double-centurion — caught down the leg side for a duck. He then sent back Sumit Kushwah (114), who was caught behind, going for an expansive shot outside the off-stump.
Off-spinner Hrithik Shokeen (three for 80) chipped in with two wickets before left-arm spinner Vashisht (three for 53) cleaned up the last two batters.
For MP, Aman Bhadoria’s quickfire 42 off 28 ensured his side went past 350. He smashed Shokeen for two consecutive fours and a six in an over before doing the same to Siddhant with a cover drive, a slash through point and a pull over the long-on fence.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.