Assam rode on KB Arun Karthik’s patient 81 to take a vital eight-run first innings lead over Delhi but the Group A Ranji Trophy cricket match is interestingly poised with the visitors reaching 101 for four in their second essay at stumps on the second day, here on Monday.
Resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 69 for three in reply to Delhi’s 149, Assam were bowled out for 157 in 64.1 overs.
Besides Arun Karthik, who scored his runs off 169 balls and hit eight boundaries and three sixes, no other Assam batsmen could make significant contributions.
Skipper Gokul Sharma (24) added just two runs to his overnight score before being catsled by Pradeep Sangwan.
left-arm orthodox bowler Manan Sharma was pick of the bowlers for Delhi with figures of four for 41, while Sangwan scalped three wickets for 33 runs.
Delhi batsmen showed more purpose in their second innings but the visiting team skipper Gautam Gambhir’s torrid time with the bat continues as he fell for a duck, lBW to Krishna Das (2/31).
But the other opener Unmukt Chand showed some spark and made 44 off 64 balls before he became Krishna’s second victim of the day. Dhruv Shorey (38) and Nitish Rana (19) both fell to Gokul Sharma (2/6).
Milind Kumar and Puneet Bisht were yet to open their account at the close of play. Delhi lead Assam by 93 runs with six wickets. The match is heading for an interesting finish as two full day’s play still remains for both the sides to eke out a result.
But the other opener Unmukt Chand showed some spark and made 44 off 64 balls before he became Krishna’s second victim of the day. Dhruv Shorey (38) and Nitish Rana (19) both fell to Gokul Sharma (2/6).
Bengal reach 528/8
Pune: Sudip Chatterjee struck a sublime 147 to steer Bengal to 528/8 on day two of their Ranji Trophy match against Maharashtra. Chatterjee, who resumed the innings from an overnight 51, went on to play for 311 balls with his solid knock comprising 19 fours.
The three half centurions of the day were Pankaj Shaw (57), Shreevats Goswami (51), Aamir Gani (59).
Spinner Chirag Khurana was the most successful bowler for Maharasthra, taking four wickets for 141 in 41 overs.
Mumbai take lead over Railways
Mumbai: Railways leg-spinner Karn Sharma grabbed six wickets, including a sensational three in 12 balls, but Mumbai rode on opener Akhil Herwadkar’s disciplined knock of 145 to take the first innings lead in their Group B Ranji Trophy match.
Replying to Railways’ paltry first innings total of 217, Mumbai ended day two of the four-day tie at 330 for 9 for a lead of 113 on a Wankhede Stadium track offering appreciable turn to the slow bowlers, indicated by the 28-year-old Sharma’s impressive figures of 6 for 90.
At stumps, Nikhil Patil was unbeaten with a well-made 82 along with number 11 batsman Vishal Dabholkar (0) after left-handed Herwadkar had played the sheet-anchor’s role with aplomb in his 277-minute stay in which he hit 15 fours and 2 sixes.
Mumbai, in fact, started at 4 for 2 in the morning when Herwadkar and Shreyas Iyer (57 in 62 balls; 1x6, 8x4) flayed the attack to take the hosts to 131.
Hp pile up 551 vs Saurashtra
Rajkot: Himachal Pradesh rode on centuries by opener Prashant Chopra (187) and Robin Bist (101) to pile up a massive 551 in their Group C Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra.
After the visiting side’s innings ended 551 all out in 168.1 overs, the hosts reached 21 for no loss when the stumps were drawn on the second day.
Resuming at their overnight score of 310 for three, Himachal Pradesh, besides Chopra and Bist, were well served by Nikhi Gangta (77) and Rishi Dhawan (55).
Kerala amass 441
Porvorim (Goa): Robert Fernandez and Fabid Ahmed hit a century each as Kerala scored 441 all out in the first innings and then reduced Goa to 81 for two on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Group C cricket match.
Resuming at an overnight score of 224 for five, Kerala lost Akshay Kodoth (35) early.But Robert (109) and Fabid (106) played superb knocks, adding 129 runs together for the seventh wicket to take the team past 360-run mark.
Robert hit eight fours and a six during his innings that came off 261 balls, Fabid played an aggressive knock off 122 deliveries that included 7 sixes and 8 fours.
For Goa, Amit Yadav was the most successful bowler, claiming four for 119. P Parmeswaran and Shadab Jakati supported him well, taking two wickets each.
In reply, Goa were 81/2 in 32 overs when at close of play with Amogh Desai batting on 38 and Amit Yadav on 1.