Col CK Nayudu trophy: Chandigarh lads fail to make it to knock-out stage

Chandigarh, February 22

Despite logging an eight-wicket win over Maharashtra during a Col CK Nayudu Trophy match, the local side failed to qualify for the knock-out stage of the tournament.

During the last day’s play at the Sector 16 cricket stadium, the local boys pulled off an easy win as Nehal Pajni scored 77 runs with the help of 10 boundaries and two sixes. Arjun Azad scored 45 with six boundaries and a six, while Askhit Rana scored 33 with three boundaries and a six. The side was chasing 161 runs to win on the last day. In reply to Maharashtra’s 280, Chandigarh scored 330 and gained a lead of 50 runs. Maharashtra’s second innings collapsed for 210, setting a target of 161 runs for the hosts.

Despite this win, Chandigarh failed to enter the knock-out round as Jharkhand topped the points table with 32 points after managing four wins in seven matches. Saurashtra registered an innings win over Assam in their last match to claim the second position. The team won four matches in seven fixtures. Chandigarh also registered four wins in seven matches, but remained behind Saurashtra by just one point and had to be contend with the third place.

The performance of Chandigarh players had been excellent throughout the tournament. Skipper Azad scored 654 runs with three centuries and three half-centuries, while Arnav Bansal scored 431 runs with two centuries. Pajni also scored 411 runs with a century while Chiragveer Dhindsa scored a total of 337 runs with two centuries. In bowling, left arm spin bowler Amit Shukla took 32 wickets, while another spinner Nishank Birla took 27 wickets. Neel Dhaliwal took 10 wickets.