Pava Raju scythes through Tripura

Tripura cut a sorry figure in their Under 16 level Vijay Merchant Trophy quarter final against Andhra at Kollam today. They were all out in exactly two hours time for 50 with their individual scores resembling a eleven digit cell phone number. The highest was six which also happened to equal the number of wickets taken by Andhra's new ball bowler, the fiery (to the hapless Tripura batsmen!) Pava Raju. But Tripura's blushes were spared by a staggering 24 extras which included 14 byes let through by Andhra keeper T Jitesh. Andhra had posted a potentially match winning total of 200-6 by stumps with B Sriharsha (67) and T Jitesh (28) going strong.

In the other quarter final match that began today at the Medical College Ground in Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, after being put in to bat by Rajasthan, had scored 258-8. Opener SL Dalvi batted through the day to remain unconquered on 129 (254 balls, 11 fours, 1 six), precisely half his side's total. His most productive association was an 88 run fourth wicket stand with SP Bagul (35). Rajasthan used nine bowlers of whom Beniwal with 2-19 produced the best figures.