Patna: Bihar delivered a stellar all-round performance on the opening day of the Vijay Merchant Trophy U16 match against Arunachal Pradesh at Vikas Cricket Ground, Bhubaneswar. Dominating in both batting and bowling, Bihar established a firm grip on the match.
Batting first, Arunachal Pradesh struggled against Bihar’s disciplined bowling attack and were dismissed for a mere 84 runs in just 21.2 overs. Satyam Raj led the charge with an extraordinary spell, claiming 5 wickets for just 22 runs in 9.2 overs, including five maidens. Bhaskar Anand contributed significantly, taking 2 wickets for just 4 runs in 2 overs, while Piyush Kumar picked up 2 wickets for 48 runs in 7 overs.
In reply, Bihar’s batsmen put up a commanding performance, scoring a mammoth 405 runs for the loss of only 3 wickets in 73 overs. The innings was highlighted by an unbeaten double century from Pritam Raj, who smashed 236 runs, including 35 fours and 6 sixes. His historic knock helped Bihar secure a massive first-innings lead of 321 runs.
Supporting Pritam at the crease, Yash scored a crucial half-century, and Vivek Anand remained unbeaten on 64, further strengthening Bihar’s dominance. The partnership between Pritam and Vivek proved instrumental in demoralising the Arunachal bowling attack.
By the end of Day 1, Bihar had firmly established their control over the match, leaving Arunachal Pradesh with a monumental challenge to overcome. With a superb all-round display, Bihar looks set to secure a decisive victory.
