Rajasthan score 89-run victory over MP

Rajasthan completed an 89-run victory over Madhya Pradesh in their Central Zone Vijay Merchant Trophy (under-16) match at Bhilwara yesterday to collect the maximum 8 points. After Rajasthan had declared at their overnight 159-4 to set their opponents a victory target of 307 in a minimum of 90 overs, MP fell away from a promising 156-3 to be bowled out for 217 from 82.2 overs. Opener Parvezullah Khan top scored with 41. For Rajasthan Shamsher Singh had the best figures of 3-52 (for a match haul of 8-78).

A century by Yusuf Pathan and his 83-run seventh wicket stand with HM Shah (46) took Baroda to a comfortable score of 326 in their West Zone Vijay Merchant Trophy match against Saurashtra at Rajkot yesterday. At stumps Saurashtra were 97-3 from 50 overs with Padmanav Jadeja on 24 and Nikhil Rathod on 18. Pathan made 133 (210 balls, 13 4's, 4 6's) and followed it up by taking 1-23 in 15 overs. For Saurashtra, Karavadra and Hansalpara took 3 wickets each.

A fine 91 from Sumit Chavan and a patient 56 from Shirish Kamthe helped Maharashtra to the first innings lead against Gujarat in the West Zone Vijay Merchant Trophy match at Ahmedabad yesterday. Replying to Gujarat's 206, Maharashtra, at one point 236-4, had slumped to 242-7 by stumps. Timil Patel, one of the five Patels in the Gujarat line-up, followed up his knock of 59 with a haul of 5-75 from 32 overs.

A brilliant unbeaten 139 (213 balls, 14 4's) from ASK Verma and his unbroken stand of 140 with Y Gnaneswara Rao (72) helped Andhra post an imposing 317-2 from 93 overs on the first day of their South Zone Vijay Merchant Trophy match against Karnataka at Vishakapatnam yesterday. Verma had earlier been involved in another century stand of 128 with opener M Suresh (80). Karnataka used eight bowlers during the day but their attack wilted under the onslaught.