Shillong, Feb 2: Bipin Kumar Ray has delivered a stellar performance for Meghalaya in their U-23 men’s Col CK Nayudu Trophy match against Vidarbha in Nagpur, claiming a total of eight wickets across two innings, so far.
The match, which began on Saturday, saw Meghalaya opting to field first after winning the toss, and they successfully bowled out the hosts for exactly 200 runs in their first innings. Bipin was the standout bowler, taking 6 wickets for 70 runs in 20.1 overs, while Manish Sharma contributed with 3 wickets for 57 runs in 19 overs and Abhishek Kumar chipped in with 1 wicket for 23 runs in 8 overs.
Vidarbha struggled against the spin-friendly conditions, with none of their batters managing to surpass 39 runs. The combined efforts of Bipin and Manish saw them bowl 39.1 out of the 56.1 overs Vidarbha faced.
Meghalaya, however, faced early setbacks in their first innings, losing three wickets for just 21 runs. Captain Kevin Christopher and Swastic Chettri provided some stability with a 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but Kevin’s dismissal triggered another collapse, leaving Meghalaya at 82 for 7.
Swastic fought hard, remaining unbeaten with a well-compiled 76 off 132 deliveries, which included nine fours and one six. He found some support from Manish, with whom he stitched a crucial 57-run stand for the eighth wicket. However, once Manish departed, Meghalaya were eventually bowled out for 157, trailing by 43 runs.
Vidarbha strengthened their position in their second innings, reaching 230 for 5 by the close of play on the second day (Sunday), extending their lead to 273 runs with plenty of time left in the match.
Bipin continued to make an impact, picking up 2 wickets for 63 runs in 19 overs, while part-time bowler Kevin Christopher surprised with figures of 2 wickets for 27 runs in 8 overs. Manish also claimed a wicket, finishing the day with figures of 1 wicket for 55 runs in 20 overs.
