Kulye's ton props up Rangnekar XI in MCA under-19 selection tourney

Mumbai, Oct 31 (UNI) Swapnil Kulye rode on two lives offered by Vijay Manjrekar XI to rattle up 114 off 106 balls (11 fours, four sixes) and single-handedly lift Khandu Rangnekar XI from 98-4 to 199 all out in the first innings of Sportstar Trophy U-19 MCA Selection Trial third and last round at Karnataka ground here today.

Left-arm medium-pacer Vivek Arothe was the bowler to suffer both times as the middle-order batsman was dropped by Rehmani Sufiyan in the slips (62-3) before opening his account, then wicketkeeper Muddassar Shaikh dropped the second chance (98-4) with Kulye on 21.

Rangnekar XI hit back by sending back the top four Manjrekar XI batsmen for 59 at stumps on the opening day of this three-day match.

Akshay Darekar, left-arm spinner, claimed both set batsman Pratik Amin and Ajay Joshi.

In another game at Elf Vengsarkar Oval, Vijay Merchant XI, leading the four-team league with seven points, amassed 263 in the first innings with vital knocks from openers Swapnil Salvi (44 off 91 balls), number four Nikhil Mandle (43 off 70 balls) and all-rounder Jeff Pereira (58 off 108 balls, eight fours).

Medium-pacer Viral Patel (3-65), off-spinners Sachin Wagh (2-52) and Vidyadhar Kamat (2-58) performed for Dattu Phadkar XI.

Brief scores At Elf Vengsarkar Oval: Vijay Merchant XI 263 all out in 76.3 overs (Swapnil Salvi 44, Bravish Shetty 23, Nikhil Mandle 43, Gaurav Chavan 21, Jeff Pereira 58, Rohan Bagwe 26 no; Viral Patel 3-65, Sachin Wagh 2-52, Vidyadhar Kamat 2-58) vs Dattu Phadkar XI 13-1 in seven overs.

At Karnataka ground, Cross Maidan: Khandu Rangnekar XI 199 all out in 54.3 overs (Sridip Mangela 24, Aditya Tare 22, Swapnil Kulye 114; Vivek Arothe 3-32, Rakesh Naik 3-21) vs Vijay Manjrekar XI 59-4 in 26 overs (Ajay Joshi 22, Akshay Darekar 2-5).

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