Bihar beat Chhattisgarh to win BCCI Associated Members U-19 Trophy

Patna, January 22, 2011: Bihar finally broke the Chhattisgarh jinx. After losing U-22 and U-16 finals to the hosts Chhattisgarh in the BCCI Associated Members tournaments, Bihar bounced back in the U-19 championships to beat Chhattisgarh by 2 wickets in a thrilling final in Raipur on Saturday.

According to information reached here, batting first Chhattisgarh made 234 runs for the loss of 6 wickets off 50 overs. In reply, Bihar surpassed the target losing eight wickets on the way.

Atul Sharma (65 not out) top scored for Chhattisgarh. He hit five boundaries off 99 balls.

Pawanjeep Singh (46 not out) and Chhabi Jal Khatri (37) were the other important contributors. Despite dropping five catches, Bihar boys displayed good fielding as they ran out four rival batsmen.

Nishant Kumar and Kumar Aditya did bulk of scoring for Bihar. Nishant Kumar made unbeaten 57 runs off 75 balls with six boundaries while Kumar Aditya scored 52 runs off 85 balls with four hits to the fence. Pratik Raj took three wickets for 49 runs.

With this win Bihar staked their claim for entering into the main league of the BCCI tournaments for the 2011-12 seasons.

Brief scores:

CHHATTISGARH : 234/6 in 50 overs

Chhabi Jal Khatri 37 47 balls 6x4

Sheikh Wasim 25 39 balls 2x4

Ian Coaster 10 9 balls 2x4

Gaurav Tandon 22 44 balls 3x4

Atul Sharma 65 NO 99 balls 5x4

Pawanjeep Singh 46 NO 46 balls 5x4

Kumar Aditya 1/21

Satish Roy 1/32

BIHAR : 236/8 in 49.3 overs

Managal Mahroor 23 31 balls 4x4

Shasheem Rathore 8 8 balls 2x4

Siddhant Vijay 11 16 balls 1x4

Kumar Aditya 52 85 balls 4x4

Nishant Kumar 57 NO 75 balls 6x4

Vikash Ranjan 12 10 balls 2x4

Nishant Prakash 18 15 balls 2x4 1x6

Kamlesh Singh 4 NO 4 balls 1x4

Rajesh Singh 25 38 balls 2x4

Kumar Rajnish 11 18 balls 2x4

Pratik Raj 3/49

Gaurav Tandon 2/36

Akhand Pratap Singh 1/42

Photo caption: Members of the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA) U-19 team pose for a group photograph after winning the BCCI Associated Members Tournament in Raipur on January 22, 2011.

Photo: Aftab Alam Siddiqui