By Our Reporter
Shillong, Feb 7: Meghalaya’s Jaskirat Singh Sachdeva had a match to remember as he struck an unbeaten century against Odisha on the third day of their U-25 Col CK Nayudu Trophy match on Tuesday but it was all in a losing cause as Odisha came through with eight wickets in hand.
Player of the Match Sachdeva held on to his wicket throughout the match as he made 74 not out in the first innings and then exactly 100 not out in the second as Meghalaya made 204.
Meghalaya were in a perilous position on Tuesday morning as they resumed their second innings on 12/3. Meghalaya needed a further 119 runs to make Odisha bat again after making 201 in their first outing with the bat, to which their opponents responded with 332.
Things, though, got even worse for Meghalaya as they slipped to 22/5. However, Swastic Chettri, who was trying to hold the innings together, found support in Sachdeva and they put on 82 for the fifth wicket before Chettri was run out for 42 after hitting four fours and the only six of the innings.
Meghalaya were then further reduced to 138/8 when Sachdeva, who struck 12 fours in all, and Ram Gurung (29) partnered together in a 65-run stand.
The eventual centurion still required one run to get to triple figures when Number 11 Mickey Marngar walked out to the middle. The tailender hung around just long enough for Sachdeva to get his ton before being bowled.
Meghalaya’s total of 204 in the second innings meant that Odisha had to get 74 to win and they did that in 19.4 overs.
Two wickets fell – to PM Santhosh (1/15) and Manish Sharma (1/33) – but Odisha did not slip up further in the chase.
Meghalaya’s next and final match of the season will be against Vidarbha from February 12.