Mumbai U-16 are poised to win the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/bcci-sweats-over-conducting-ranji-trophy-as-cases-rise-23207677" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Vijay Merchant Trophy</a> as Aryan Sakpal&rsquo;s team enjoyed a lead of 186 runs over Gujarat on Day Two of the four-day final in Alur, Karnataka, on Thursday.
Thanks to pacers Himanshu Singh and Sarthak Bhide, who claimed three wickets apiece, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/u-14-giles-shield-the-semis-clashes-to-be-held-at-mca-bkc-and-police-gymkhana-23330121" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Mumbai</a> bowled out Gujarat for just 145 on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Mumbai scored 331-7. After losing openers Devansh Trivedi (0) and Raza Mirza (3) early, one-drop Sakpal (127, 13x4, 3x6) played a marathon knock, facing 355 balls. No. 4 Harsh Gaikar smashed 69 with the help of 14 hits to the fence. &ldquo;I enjoyed my innings. We lost the first wicket for nothing on the board, so I just told myself to be patient and try to play as long as possible,&rdquo; Sakpal told mid-day from Alur on Thursday.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/shivam-is-a-much-improved-player-head-coach-rahul-dravid-on-dubes-contributions-in-the-series-23330630" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">&lsquo;Shivam is a much improved player&rsquo;: Head coach Rahul Dravid on Dube's contributions in the series</a>
He smashed back-to-back sixes over the bowler&rsquo;s head to reach his century. Sakpal did not make the Mumbai U-16 team last season. &ldquo;I could have got a chance last season. I thought, if I was not able to satisfy selectors, I need to score more runs. They picked batsmen who scored more runs than me and it was right. This year, I scored 230 runs in four innings of the Payyade Trophy.
&ldquo;Being captain, I wanted to shoulder responsibility and I am glad I did it. We have a very good chance of winning the final outright,&rdquo; Sakpal signed off. Aryan&rsquo;s dad Sandesh is over the moon. He wanted to watch the game at Alur, but Sakpal Jr opposed the idea.
Brief scores Gujarat U-16 145 all out (Kavya Patel 66; Himanshu Singh 3-34, Sarthak Bhide 3-38) v Mumbai U-16 331-7 (Aryan Sakpal 127, Harsh Gaikar 69; Kavya Patel 4-38)

Thanks to pacers Himanshu Singh and Sarthak Bhide, who claimed three wickets apiece, Mumbai bowled out Gujarat for just 145 on Wednesday

Vijay Merchant Trophy: Aryan Sakpal's ton helps Mumbai dominate Gujarat in final

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Home / Sports / Cricket / Article / Vijay Merchant Trophy: Aryan Sakpal's ton helps Mumbai dominate Gujarat in final

Vijay Merchant Trophy: Aryan Sakpal's ton helps Mumbai dominate Gujarat in final

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