Ranji Trophy: Jharkhand takes first innings lead over Mumbai

Mumbai: Minnows Jharkhand grabbed a handy first innings lead of 86 runs over defending champions Mumbai and then increased it substantially by reaching 176 for 5 in their second innings on day three of their Ranji Trophy Group A match here today.

Jharkhand, who rode on a blistering knock of 238 by Saurabh Tiwary, dismissed the home team for 265 by wrapping up the remaining five Mumbai first innings wickets this morning, 28 minutes before lunch on the penultimate day of the game at the Wankhede Stadium.

Then the visitors, who are at the bottom of the league table, ensured they did not collapse in their second essay as openers Bhavin Thakkar (39) and Rameez Nemat (32) gave them a sound start of 65 which was capitalised upon by Tiwary (38) and Ishank Jaggi, who was unbeaten on 51 made off 92 balls with a six and 7 fours.

Left-handed Tiwary and Jaggi put on 75 runs in only 71 minutes for the fourth wicket before the former was caught behind off Javed Khan. Khan also dismissed wicketkeeper Pappu Singh who shouldered arms and was bowled off the last ball of the day.

At stumps, the visitors were 262 runs ahead of Mumbai and stood poised to take at least three points from the game.

In the morning, Mumbai's best chance of overtaking Jharkhand's first innings total lay with the unconquered sixth wicket pair of Hiken Shah and Suryakumar Yadav who were not out on 46 and 49 respectively in an overnight team score of 210 for 5.

Both completed their centuries but then were dismissed in close succession at the same total of 236 to virtually blow away group leaders Mumbai's hopes of taking the first innings lead.

Shah was sent back for 58 when he was bowled by leg spinner Qadri and eight balls later Yadav, who made 63, edged to the slip cordon off Shiv Shankar Rao.

The duo's sixth wicket stand was worth 163 and but for it Mumbai would have conceded a bigger first innings lead.

Javed Khan left three runs after, but Shardul Thakur, who made 23, managed to pull the score past the 260 mark in the company of Vishal Dabholkar who was last out for a duck after facing 34 balls in one hour's stay.

Thakur flicked at Varun Aaron and got a leading edge to be caught at mid-off while Dabholkar was sent back by rival skipper Nadeem. Aaron secured four wickets while left arm spinner Nadeem got three.

Brief scores: Jharkhand 351 and 176 for 5 (Bhavin Thakkar 39, R Nemat 32, S Tiwary 38, I Jaggi batting 51; J Khan 2 for 23). Mumbai 265 (A Tare 67, H Shah 58, S Yadav 63; V Aaron 4 for 42, S Nadeem 3 for 65, S Qadri 2 for 36).

TN takes first innings lead over Baroda

TN takes first innings lead over Baroda

Chennai: Dinesh Karthik narrowly missed out on a century but Tamil Nadu managed to take a 71-run first-innings lead over Baroda on the third and penultimate day of their Group B Ranji Trophy match here today.

Karthik was the lone batsman to take the hosts past Baroda's first innings total of 162, even as other batsmen failed to reach the double-digit mark, except for M Rangarajan (10).

Tamil Nadu's first innings folded for 233 as Baroda skipper Yusuf Pathan wreaked havoc with figures of six for 84, while Bhargav Bhatt chipped in with three for 79.

Karthik, who scored a 150-ball 92 (8X4, 3X6), put on a solid 83-run stand for the fourth wicket with Baba Indrajith, followed by another valuable 39 runs for the sixth wicket with Rangarajan.

Resuming on 101 for five, Karthik, starting on 23, went on to play a patient knock, while Indrajith, who was unbeaten on 23 last night, could add just 15 more runs before getting out for 38 (99b, 5X4).

Baroda, in their second innings, reached 73 for one at close of play today.

After opener Saurabh Wakaskar (20) got out, Dhiren Mistry and Aditya Waghmode made sure there was no further damage on the day.

While Mistry was unbeaten on 29, Waghmode was on 19 when the stumps were drawn.

Brief scores:

Baroda: 162 & 73 for one in 33 overs (Dhiren Mistry batting 29),

Tamil Nadu 1st innings: 233 all out (Dinesh Karthik 92, Baba Indrajith 38; Yusuf Pathan 6/84).

UP wins by innings and 14 runs

UP wins by innings and 14 runs

Ghaziabad: Uttar Pradesh bowlers produced a disciplined effort to register a comfortable innings and 14 runs win against Services in their Group B Ranji Trophy match here today.

Starting their second innings with a deficit of 205 runs after the hosts posted 369 all out in their first innings, Services were bowled out for 191 in 57.5 overs at the Mohan Meakins Cricket Stadium.

Skipper Rajat Paliwal was the lone bright spot for Services as he scored a fluent 95 off 127 balls even as the others failed to put up a fight in the face of some disciplined bowling by the UP bowlers.

Medium pacer Imtiaz Ahmed emerged as the most successful bowler, returning figures of 3/16, while there were two wickets apiece for spearhead R P Singh, Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla.

Shadab Nazar was the second best scorer with 29 runs to his name. Paliwal struck 15 fours during his knock on the third day.

A lot of credit for the win should also be given to Eklavya Dwivedi, who top-scored in the match with a calculated 131, which consolidated UP's position after they bundled out the visitors for 164 in their first innings.

Brief scores:

Services 164 & 191 in 57.5 overs (R Paliwal 95; Imtiaz Ahmed 3/16).

Jiwanjot's breezy ton highlight of 3rd day's play

Jiwanjot's breezy ton highlight of 3rd day's play

Mohali: Opener Jiwanjot Singh smashed an unbeaten century to help Punjab produce a much-improved batting show and score 330 for one in their second innings against Vidarbha at stumps on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy Group C match, which is heading towards a dull draw, here today.

Jiwanjot struck as many as 25 boundaries to bring up his 188 off just 200 deliveries.

At the close of play, wicket-keeper Uday Kaul was giving him company on 88 which came off 169 balls and was studded with four boundaries.

Manan Vohra was the only Punjab wicket to fall as he was run out on 52.

Punjab, thus, took an overall lead of 154 runs over Vidarbha but with just a day's play remaining the game seems to be heading towards a draw.

Earlier resuming at the overnight score of 332 for seven, Vidarbha added just 28 runs to their score before being bowled out for 360 in their first innings in reply to Punjab's 184.

Sandeep Sharma was pick of the bowlers for Punjab qith figures of five for 90 while VRV Singh took four wickets giving away 89 runs.

If the match ends in a draw, Vidarbha would take home three points from the match vy virtue of 176 runs first innings lead, while Punjab had to be content with just one point.

Brief Scores:

Punjab 1st Innings: 184 & 330 for one in 73 overs (Jiwanjot Singh 188 not out, Uday Kaul 88 not out)

Vidarbha 1st Innings: 360 all out in 128 overs (Ravi Jangid 104, Faiz Fazal 99, Amol Jungade 59, Sandeep Sharma 5/90).

Rajasthan on top against MP

Rajasthan on top against MP

Gwalior: Rajasthan looked set to win their Group B Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh after reaching 77 for three in a chase of 148 against the hosts on the third and penultimate day of the match here today.

Overnight 121 for two, Madhya Pradesh were all out for 314, courtesy Naman Ojha's 137-run knock which came off 204 deliveries and included 20 fours and three sixes.

But the second innings revival could not make up for the hosts' collapse in the first essay (115 all out) as Rajasthan were left to chase just 148 runs.

The loss of a couple of early wickets was hardly a dampener for the visiting side which needs 71 more runs to seal the victory tomorrow.

At stumps, Robin Bist (39) was at the crease and would be joined by skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar tomorrow after Vineet Saxena (29) just before stumps.

Ishwar Pandey took both the Rajasthan wickets which fell today.

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh batting collapsed after a solid showing by the top half of the line-up.

Opener Jalaj Saxena (65) and Ojha combined to put together 86 runs for the second wicket. Saxena's 65 came off 88 deliveries and included 13 boundaries.

Later skipper Devendra Bundela contributed 54 runs off 115 balls even as the rest of the team failed to come good.

For Rajasthan, Rituraj Singh picked four for 74 in 23.3 overs. Pacer Pankaj Singh picked up three wickets for 82 runs in 26 overs.

Brief Scores:

Madhya Pradesh: 115 and 314

Rajasthan: 282 and 77/3 in 22.4 overs (Robin Bist 39, Ishwar Pandey 2/28).

J&K batsmen fight hard to save match against Maharashtra

J&K batsmen fight hard to save match against Maharashtra

Pune: Obaid Haroon (94) missed out on a hundred while Bandeep Singh (79) scored a half century as Jammu and Kashmir put on a gritty batting display to reach 333 for six in their second innings against Maharashtra in their Ranji Trophy group C match here today.

After a miserable batting show in the first innings, the visitors showed some resolve today as they ended the third day 17 runs ahead of Maharashtra with four wickets remaining.

Resuming on 131 for one, Haroon and Bandeep added 72 more runs to their overnight stand of 85 before former was removed by leg-spinner Bharatkumar Solanki. Haroon's 172-ball knock included 15 fours.

Bandeep, who took 184 balls for his 79, too was removed by Solanki. His effort included seven fours and a six.

Samiullah Beig (10) and Ramdyal Punia (27) remained unbeaten as J&K were fighting for a draw at the end of day's play.

For Maharashtra, Solanki and pacer Samad Fallah took two wickets each while Shrikant Mundhe bagged one.

Brief scores:

J&K - 85 and 333/6 (Obaid Haroon 94, Bandeep Singh 79; Bharatkumar Solanki 2/27)

Maharashtra - 401/9 decl.

Kerala eases to victory against Himachal

Kerala eases to victory against Himachal

Kannur: Off-spinner Vinoop Manoharan notched up a five-wicket haul to guide Kerala to a thumping 61-run win over Himachal Pradesh on the third and penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Group C match here today.

Overnight 110 for seven while chasing a target of 196, Himachal collapsed to 134 this morning as Kerala clinched their second win in five matches and log six points.

Himachal managed to survive merely six overs this morning. Manoharan's five wickets cost just 43 runs in 12 overs.

For Himachal, skipper Rishi Dhawan failed to add anything to the 33 runs he had managed yesterday, falling to Padmanabhan Prasanth, who returned figures of two for 52.

This was Himachal's second loss this season.

Brief Scores:

Kerala: 214 & 155

Himachal Pradesh: 174 and 134 all out in 39.2 overs (Prashant Chopra 36, Vinoop Manoharan 5/43).

Tripura scores 650/8 decl; Hyd reaches 258 for one on day three

Tripura scores 650/8 decl; Hyd reaches 258 for one on day three

Hyderabad: Tripura scored a massive 650 for eight declared in their first innings before Hyderabad reached 258 for one at the end of the third and penultimate day in their Group C Ranji Trophy match here today.

Resuming on 588 for six, overnight centurion S Abbas Ali, who started today on 105, remained unbeaten on 132 off 222 balls laced with 12 fours and two sixes when the visitors declared their innings.

Other overnight batsman Rana Dutta (11) added 10 runs to his overnight score of one before Tushar Saha (20) also chipped in with some important runs.

In reply, Hyderabad lost opener TL Suman (21) early but skipper Akshath Reddy scored an unbeaten century, while DB Ravi Teja completed his half-century to ensure there was no further damage today.

At stumps, Reddy was not out on 138 and Ravi Teja was on 90

Brief scores:

Tripura 1st innings: 650 for eight declared (S Abbas Ali not out 132, Tushar Saha 20; M Ravi Kiran 2/110).

Hyderabad 1st innings: 258 for one (Akshath Reddy batting 138, DB Ravi Teja batting 90).

Shukla leads Bengal fightback on an interesting 3rd day

Shukla leads Bengal fightback on an interesting 3rd day

New Delhi: Captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla led from the front with an unbeaten 87 as Bengal reached 252 for seven in reply to Railways' first-innings score of 306 in a group B Ranji Trophy encounter at the Jamia Millia Islamia Sports Complex here today.

Bengal require another 55 runs to take the first-innings lead but Railways still look favourites to take the final three wickets.

Shukla was lucky on 51, when he mistimed a pull-shot off Krishna Kant Upadhyay, which saw poor communication between Arindam Ghosh and Shivakant Shukla. The skier was for Ghosh standing at short cover while Shivakant sprinted from pointed and made a mess of the opportunity. The Bengal captain was walking back but, to his relief, saw Shivakant drop the opportunity.

Shukla, who faced 130 balls hitting nine fours and two sixes, added 54 runs for the 8th wicket with Iresh Saxena (5 batting). Saxena did well to hang around for more than hour and half despite relentless pressure applied by the Railways bowlers led by pacer Anureet Singh (4/87).

If Shukla's fightback was the highlight of the post-lunch session, the first half of the day was dominated by Railways skipper Murali Kartik, who 'Mankaded' Bengal batsman Sandipan Das (19) in the final over before lunch after having warned him in his previous over.

Once third umpire ruled Sandipan out, a furious Bengal coach Ashok Malhotra had an altercation with Kartik and was furious that the former Test cricketer didn't adhere to the 'Spirit of the Game'.

In the morning, Subhamoy Das (20, 121 balls, 2x4) and Gitimoy Basu (56, 259 balls, 5x4) continued with their defensive batting before Anureet got the breakthrough.He got one to nip back in as Subhamoy was adjudged leg before. Anustup Majumdar (0)'s horrible form continued as he played to a wrong line to get clean bowled.

From 80 for one, Bengal were soon 80 for three in 58.3 overs when Sandipan came in. The youngster showed some positive intent in his stroke-play before the freak dismissal brought about his end.

Basu's six hours and 23 minutes stay at the wicket which in fact put more pressure on the team finally ended when he played a cut shot which landed in second slip Jonathan Rongsen's hands off Updhayay's bowling.

Arnab Nandi (4) also didn't last long shouldering arms to an off-cutter from Anureet as Bengal were reeling at 153 for six. Veterans Shukla and Saurashis Lahiri (25) got together as they started scoring runs at a faster pace than Gitimoy and Co.

Shukla's two sixes were clean hits. The first off leggie Karn Sharma over long off while the second was a pull shot off Anureet's bowling.

Lahiri got a howler from umpire P Jayapal when the tall all-rounder was hit on the front foot by Anureet when he tried to play a forward defensive stroke.

Shukla and Saxena then played confidently during the next hour and half with the Bengal skipper hitting some delightful strokes all around the wicket. It included square drives, lap shot, square cuts and pull-shots.

Brief Scores: Railways 306. Bengal 252/7 (Laxmi Ratan Shukla 87 batting, Gitimoy Basu 56, Anureet Singh 4/87).

Awana helps Delhi take first innings lead against Odisha

Awana helps Delhi take first innings lead against Odisha

Sambalpur: Delhi pacer Parvinder Awana (5/97) took five wickets after a splendid century by Odisha's Natraj Behera (158) as the visitors took a crucial first-innings lead in their Ranji Trophy group A match here today.

Led by Awana, Delhi bowled out Odisha for 379, 63 runs behind their first innings total of 442.

Delhi were 49 for two at the end of day's play with skipper Gautam Gambhir back in the hut for just five. The other batsmen to get out was Unmukt Chand (3).

India discard Virender Sehwag remained unbeaten on 32 as he smashed seven fours in 31 deliveries, alongside Mithun Manhas (4).

Earlier, starting day three on 121 for three, opener Natraj, overnight 53, carried on the good work and brought about his fourth first-class century at the Surendra Sai Stadium here.

Natraj recorded 157-run stand with Abhilash Mallick (71) for the fifth wicket and looked good to surpass Delhi's first innings total but both fell in quick succession to hand an all important lead to the visitors.

Natraj scored 23 boundaries in his 290-ball knock while Mallick took 105 deliveries for his 71 that included 10 fours and two sixes.

Besides Awana, left-arm spinner Varun Sood (3/67) was instrumental in removing the lower-order batsmen while Ashish Nehra and Sumit Narwal claimed one wicket each.

Delhi were 112 runs ahead with eight wickets in hand. Suryakant Pradhan and Deepak Behera were the wicket takers for Odisha.

Brief Scores:

Delhi - 442 and 49/2 in 12 overs (Virender Sehwag 32 not out; Suryakant Pradhan 1/16)

Odisha - 379 all out in 115.3 overs (Natraj Behera 158, Abhilash Mallick 71; Parvinder Awana 5/97).

Karnataka inches towards victory over Haryana

Karnataka inches towards victory over Haryana

Rohtak: Pacer Ronit More picked a five-wicket haul to put Karnataka on the verge of a win in their Ranji Trophy group A match against Haryana here today.

At the end of day three, Karnataka were 35 runs away from a victory after their bowlers bundled out the hosts on 105 runs in their second innings.

While chasing a modest 97-run target, Karnataka were 62 for four with skipper C Gautam (5) and Stuart Binny (0) at the crease.

Karanataka, in their first innings, could only add three more runs to their overnight score 253 for nine as Haryana pacer Harshal Patel removed Abrar Kazi to finish with figures of six for 55.

Haryana got off to a disastrous start as Avi Barot was run out for zero. The hosts were delivered regular blows by Karnataka bowlers, led by twenty-one-year-old Ronit, as they failed to build partnerships.

Skipper Rahul Dewan (31) was the highest-scorer for Haryana as his side was dismissed in 48.3 overs.

Ronit gave away just 20 runs in 14 overs to pick his maiden five-for in first class cricket.

Brief Scores:

Haryana - 247 and 105 (Rahul Dewan 31; Ronit More 5/20)

Karnataka - 256 and 62/4 in 23 overs (K L Rahul 29; Harshal Patel 2/26).