Baroda, Tamil Nadu take laborious route to quarters

The knockout phase of the Under 16 level inter state Vijay Merchant Trophy has got under way at Thiruvananthapuram. While six teams received a bye into the quarters, the two remaining slots are being fought for in two pre quarter final matches that began Saturday. Indeed the draw for the tournament presents a positively bizarre picture with three zonal group winners in the preliminary phase (Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Baroda) being put through the indignity of a pre quarter final while their runners up have been thoughtfully provided with an unhindered passage through to the quarters.

At the LN College of Physical Education Ground, Baroda struggled to come up with a 24 run victory over Haryana after gaining a handsome first innings lead of 147 runs. Batting first after winning the toss and aided by useful outings from S Yogeshsinh (61) and HM Shah (63), Baroda made 273. M Yusuf Phatan then pegged away to reap 5-27 from 19 overs as Haryana were marched back to the pavilion for 126. Baroda then tried hard to match their opponent's total and just failed. Their 124 (G Bharadwaj taking 4-27 in 20 overs) left Haryana with a victory target of 272. Haryana made a gallant attempt, recovering from a hopeless 135-7 to post 248 in 59.4 overs.

In the other game at the Vellyani Agricultural College Ground, Tamil Nadu booked an elusive place in the quarters by leading on first innings. Bengal won the toss and were provided a 106 run start by their openers. But they gave it away by then losing five wickets for 16 runs. A late order rally marshalled by keeper A Javed (60) helped them to 291. Bengal had just one chance to slice open the Tamil Nadu innings after the latter had lost half the side for 210 including V Kudawla for 74. But steady batting down the order, in particular by No.7 AGV Arun who top scored with 77, lifted TN to 365-8 before play was called off after six mandatory overs on the third evening.

The quarter final line-up now reads: Tamil Nadu v Delhi; Baroda v Uttar Pradesh; Mumbai v Rajasthan; and Tripura v Andhra.