Punjab v Uttar Pradesh (Final, Vijay Merchant Trophy)

Rakesh Sanghi, CricInfo
13-15 January 1999

PATIALA, 13 January : A 52-run partnership for the third wicket between skipper Prashant Malviya and Anshul Kapoor enabled Uttar Pradesh to score up 105 for four in their first innings on the opening day of the three day final match of the Vijay Merchant trophy against Punjab at Dhruv Pandove Stadium here today.

Due to heavy fog in the morning, the play started 40 minutes before tea which restricted the day's play to 52 overs.

After winning the toss, Punjab asked Uttar Pradesh to bat first jolted them by taking the wickets of both their openers Shanu Hussain (0) and Deepak Yadav (15) with the score reading a mere 25. Then Anshul Kapoor (30) and Prastant Malviya (31) played steadily to carry the total to 77. Subhas Dixit on 22 and Asain Imran (0) were at the crease when the stumps were drawn for the day.

For Punjab Hari Kishan Kali, Harish Puri, S P Singh and Ranjit Singh took a wicket each, giving away 19, 25, 18, and 3 runs respectively.

Day 3: Kali helps Punjab clinch trophy

PATIALA, January 15 : Riding on the crest of a strokefilled 72 by skipper Hari Kishan Kali, Punjab made it a grand double in junior cricket, winning the All-India Vijay Merchant Cricket Tournament (under-16) for the second successive season, beating Uttar Pradesh on the basis of a 33-run first innings lead even as the three-day weather-hit final ended in a draw at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium here today.

The Punjab lads had earlier won the All India Cooch Behar Trophy, a symbol of supermacy in the under 19 group, last month.

Replying to Uttar Pradesh's first innings score of 193, sailing smoothly at 72 for no loss, the hosts' innings suddenly lost direction due to some rash shots by its middle order. At 160 for 7, it was anybody's game till Hari Kishan Kali took the game away from Uttar Pradesh with some fluent shots.

Once Punjab got the all-important first innings lead, the competitive interest in the contest seemed to be over. Punjab piled up 224 in their first innings. for Uttar Pradesh Subash Dixit and Harjeet Singh scalped four wickets each. Uttar Pradesh made 28 for one in their second innings before the match was called off.