Rituraj's five-for helps Rajasthan make second straight Ranji final

Rohtak: Fast bowler Rituraj Singh returned with a five-wicket haul to help Rajasthan notch up a 64-run victory over Haryana and make their second consecutive Ranji Trophy final at the Bansi Lal stadium here today. Only in his third first-class game, Rituraj finished as the highest wicket-taker for Rajasthan in the innings, claiming five for 37 to skittle out Haryana for 120 in their second essay in Lahli here. Rituraj, who took a total of 12 wickets for 82 runs in this semifinal game, claimed the wickets of Harshal Patel (1), Prateek Pawar (6) and tail-enders Jayant Yadav (5) and Mohit Sharma (20) today in Haryana’s second innings. He had also dismissed opener Rahul Dewan yesterday. [caption id=“attachment_180304” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Rajasthan players celebrate after the win. PTI”]  [/caption] Resuming at 15 for two, still needing 170 to win, Haryana’s second innings folded just an hour after lunch with Rituraj dismissing Mohit. Sachin Rana, who was the highest scorer for Haryana with 25 runs, tried to provide some resistance but once he was dismissed just before lunch with the scoreboard reading 88 for seven, it was all but over for the hosts. Starting the day under bright sunny conditions, Haryana could add only five more runs to their overnight score of 15 before losing nightwatchman Harshal Patel (1), who nicked a Rituraj delivery and the stumper Dishant Yagnik completed the catch. Prateek Pawar too found it difficult to negotiate the accurate bowling of Rituraj and after a 21-ball vigil ended up giving his wicket away to the bowler. Rana, who was the most impressive of Haryana’s batsmen in the second innings, applied himself and tried to keep the scoreboard ticking along with opener Nitin Saini (23). The two batsman took singles and brought up the fifty but the latter’s innings came to an end after he drove at one of Pankaj Singh’s (4 for 48) delivery only to nick it to Hrishikesh Kanitkar at first slip. Medium pacer Sumit Mathur then dismissed new man Priyank Tehlan (9), who lasted just 28 balls. Tehlan’s dismissal brought skipper Amit Mishra to the crease but 15 minutes before lunch, Rana was trapped infront of wicket when he tried to work Pankaj across the line to the onside. After lunch, Rajasthan completed the formality and claimed the remaining three wickets, with Jayant Yadav being the first to be dismissed when he struck one wide from Rituraj only to see an outstretched Puneet Yadav taking the catch at point. Mishra too was dismissed four overs later when his miscued an upper cut off Pankaj that landed in Robin Bist’s hand at point. Mohit tried to force his way out of the rut with a 25-ball 20, studded with four boundaries, but he was soon dismissed by Rituraj to draw curtains on Haryana’s Ranji season. PTI