Ranji Trophy: Tamil Nadu notch 104-run win over Maharashtra

Tamil Nadu took less than 10 overs to complete the formalities and notch up an emphatic 104-run win over Maharashtra on the fourth and concluding day of their Group B Ranji Trophy match in Chennai. Having reduced Maharashtra to 75 for eight at stumps yesterday after setting a target of 193, the home team wrapped up the proceedings in just 53 deliveries today. [caption id=“attachment_529478” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Badrinath just managed eight runs in the match. Reuters[/caption] For the visitors, Ankit Bawne was the top-scorer with an unbeaten 24 that came off 81 deliveries and included a couple of boundaries. Bawne, in fact, was the lone bright spot in an otherwise listless batting display by Maharashtra against a disciplined bowling performance by the hosts. The two wickets to fall this morning were Akshay Darekar (3) and Samad Fallah (5). Malolan Rangarajan, who got a half century in the first innings besides seven wickets in the game, was adjudged man of the match for his fine all-round display. With this win, Tamil Nadu tally eight points from three matches, while Maharashtra remain at one point from two games. Brief scores: Tamil Nadu: 276 and 149 Maharashtra: 233 and 88 all out in 46.5 overs (Ankit Bawne 24, R Aushik Srinivas 3/15, M Rangarajan 3/34). Odisha vs Haryana Govind Podder (51) crafted a patient half-century and Deepak Behera scored a crucial unbeaten 35 under pressure to lead Odisha to a four-wicket win over Haryana in their Ranji Trophy Group B match in Rohtak. Chasing 148 to win, Odisha began the fourth and the final day at 60 for three and completed the win after losing three more wickets. Odisha earned six points, including a bonus point, from this contest at Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium. It was Odisha’s first outright win in the tournament since 2008. Brief scores: Haryana: 66 and 300. Odisha 219 and 152 for six in 62.1 overs. (G Podder 51, D Behera 35 not out; C Saini 2/25). Rajsthan vs Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan grabbed three crucial points, courtesy their first innings lead, after their Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh ended in a draw at the KL Saini Ground in Jaipur. Rajasthan had taken a first innings lead of 123 runs after posting 379 in response to Madhya Pradesh’s 256. The visitors declared their second essay at 466 for six and then reduced the hosts to 88 for four by stumps on the fourth and final day. Brief scores: Madhya Pradesh 256 & 466/6 in 129.0 overs (Jalaj S Saxena 76 not out; Pankaj Singh 2/94). Rajasthan 379 and 88 for four in 21 overs. (R Bisht 37, R Singh 33; J Saxena 2/25). Andhra vs. Himachal Pradesh Amol Muzumdar completed his 27th first class century as Andhra Pradesh earned three points after drawing their Ranji Trophy Group C match against Himachal Pradesh in Nadaun. Andhra began the day at 181 for three and declared their second innings at 282 for seven to set a 390-run target for the hosts. Himachal Pradesh scored 108 for four in 47 overs and the match ended in a draw with visitors getting three points courtesy a first innings lead. Brief scores: Andhra Pradesh: 372 and 282/7 declared. (A Muzumdar 104, B Sumanth 81; Rishi Dhawan 5/77). Himachal Pradesh 265 and 108 for 4 in 47 overs. (Varun Saxena 40 not out, Amit Kumar 38 not out; P Vijaykumar 2/26). Jharkhand vs Goa Jharkhand secured three points after their Group C Ranji Trophy match against Goa ended in a tame draw here in Jamshedpur. The visitors had to be content with just a point as they conceded the first-innings lead to Jharkhand who had piled on 360 in their first innings, before bowling Goa out for 208 on the third day. Goa, however, put up a slightly better display in their second innings, reaching 292 for eight in 89 overs, when the proceedings ended at the Keenan Stadium on the fourth and final day. Brief scores: Jharkhand 1st innings: 360.  Goa 1st innings: 208 and 292 for 8 in 89 overs (Manvinder Bisla 92; Sunny Gupta 6/93). Delhi v Baroda Despite senior batsman Mithun Manhas and all-rounder Rajat Bhatia scoring centuries, Delhi were unable to surpass Baroda’s first innings total of 561 as the third round Ranji Trophy match ended in a barren draw with both teams getting a point each in New Delhi. Delhi ended the final day’s play at 505 for six at the end of mandatory overs with Bhatia remaining unbeaten on 133. Manhas scored 106, which was also his second century of the competition after his 161 against Odisha in the last match. Since two innings weren’t complete, both teams got a point each as per the new BCCI rules. Brief scores: Baroda 561. Delhi 505 for 6 in 133 overs (Rajat Bhatia not out 133, Mithun Manhas 106, Sumit Narwal not out 65, Mohit Sharma 71, Unmukt Chand 51; Bhargav Bhatt 3/169). Assam v Kerala Assam earned three points on the basis of the first innings lead against Kerala after their Ranji Trophy Group C match ended in a dull draw on the fourth and final day in Malappuram. After bundling out Kerala for 264 in their first innings, Assam scored 286 all out to take a 22-run lead. In their second innings, the hosts declared at 294 for five before the visitors, chasing 273 for victory, finished at 201 for six when stumps were drawn on day four. Brief scores: Kerala: 264 & 294 for five in 75 overs (Abhishek Hegde, 129, VA Jagadeesh 127; Gokul Sharma 2/52). Assam: 286 & 201 for six in 65 overs (Pallavkumar Das not out 92, Gokul Sharma 45; KR Sreejith 5/75). Railways vs Punjab The bowlers’ impressive display on the first day followed by Uday Kaul’s century, proved to be decisive for Punjab as their efforts helped the side earn three points from their Group A Ranji Trophy match against Railways in Bhubaneswar. The final day’s play turned out to be inconsequential as Punjab finished at 59 for two after Railways declared their second innings at 353 for five, with opener Amit Paunikar’s 166 being the highlight. Brief scores: Railways: 205 & 353 for five in 102.2 overs (Amit Paunikar 166, Sanjay Bangar 62, Bipul Sharma 2/78). Punjab: 314 and 59 for two in 28 overs. Bengal vs Gujarat Bengal’s pace trio of Ashoke Dinda, Sourav Sarkar and Shami Ahmed failed miserably as they weren’t able to get six Gujarat wickets on the final day as home team could manage only three points from the third round Ranji Trophy encounter at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. A dogged innings of 103 from left-hander Rujul Bhatt and his 149 run partnership with Rakesh Dhruv who played an exciting innings of 83 off 98 balls helped Gujarat end the final day on 272 for eight after they had a deficit of 266 runs. Brief scores: Gujarat 260 & 272/8 (Rujul Bhatt 102 no, Rakesh Dhruv 83, Sourav Sarkar 2/29). Bengal 526/7 decl. PTI