Sundar, Chatterjee power NCA

Academy batsmen make Haryana bowlers toil hard on opening day

A measured unbeaten century from Wa­s­hington Sundar (152, 306b, 19x4, 1x6) put National Cricket Academy in a commanding position against Haryana CA at stumps on day one of the final of the KSCA all-India invitational Dr K Thimmappaiah memorial cricket tournament here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday. 

Batting first after winning the toss, NCA made full use of the conditions and finished the day on 284/3 in 90 overs. 

Sundar was ably supported by fellow southpaw Sudeep Chatterjee (104, 171b, 10x4) and the pair put on a 230-run stand for the third wicket as the Haryana bowlers wilted in the afternoon sun. 

However, things began badly for NCA as they lost two wickets inside the first 13 overs – after Chirag Khurana (2) was caught behind off the bowling of Joginder Sharma in the third over, fellow medium pacer Sachin Rana accounted for Anirudh B, who made a painstaking naught off 28 balls. 

Sundar and Chatterjee went about rebuilding the innings and NCA were 85/2 from 37 overs at the lunch break. 

However, the duo upped the ante in the second session and they were particularly severe against the frontline spinners – Jayant Yadav (1/56), Yuzvendra Chahal (0/80) – as they made 127 runs in the second session alone. 

Sundar brought up his ton during this period of play as the bowlers were searching for answers. 

Recognising Sundar’s importance, the NCA coach frequently asked him to keep carrying on and not throw his wicket away. 

It was more of the same during the last session but Yadav managed to remove Sudeep which could yet bring Haryana back into the match if they get some early wickets on Wednesday.

But given how the pitch played for a large part, Deepak Hooda (21 batting) and Sundar will fancy their chances of batting Haryana out of the game. 
Brief scores: National Cricket Academy: 284/3 in 90 overs (Washington Sundar 152 batting, Sudeep Chatterjee 104) vs Haryana CA.