Patna: Bihar took complete control of their Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy Plate Group match against Nagaland after a stunning batting performance by Prithvi Raj. The young batter scored a magnificent 282 runs, guiding Bihar to an enormous total of 714 for eight wickets. The four-day Under-23 match is being played at the Sovima Cricket Ground in Nagaland, where Bihar’s batsmen dominated from the start and put the host team on the back foot.
Prithvi Raj resumed his innings on the second day from an overnight score of 99 and continued with the same confidence and aggression. He played freely all around the ground, hitting 23 fours and nine sixes in his 271-ball knock. His strike rate of over 104 showed how fast he scored despite staying at the crease for long hours. Every partnership he built pushed Bihar closer to a record-breaking total and left the Nagaland bowlers tired and helpless.
He received strong support from Prashant Kumar, who played a patient and steady innings of 140 runs off 223 balls. Wicketkeeper Shashank Upadhyay also played a key role by scoring 113 and holding the middle order together. Deepak added 59, Aditya Raj made 52, and captain Suraj Kashyap contributed 41, ensuring that Bihar kept scoring runs from one end even when wickets fell. The team finally reached 714 runs in 157.3 overs, scoring at an impressive run rate of 4.53. For Nagaland, Keduovhetuo was the most successful bowler, taking five wickets for 213 runs.
In reply, Nagaland struggled to settle against Bihar’s disciplined bowling attack. By the end of the second day, the home side had managed only 25 runs for the loss of one wicket in 20 overs. Mughavi Sumi was dismissed for 15, while Keneizetuo Rio remained unbeaten on 8 and Raja Swarnakar on 1. Bihar’s bowlers, led by Suman Kumar, kept tight lines and did not allow easy runs. With a huge deficit to cover, Nagaland now face a tough challenge as Bihar look to press for a strong result in the days to come.
