NEWS
SCHEDULES
COLUMNS
PREVIOUS TOURS
OTHER SPORTS
STATISTICS
INTERVIEWS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Rajasthan go down with guns blazing

It was more the visitors’ inexperience than Bombay’s own efforts which denied Rajasthan a historic victory over the fancied hosts in the Group A Ranji trophy Super League encounter at Wankhede Stadium, Bombay.

With victory well within their reach, Rajasthan, chasing 393 for victory and needing just 105 from 24 overs with eight wickets in hand, lost their way and crashed, falling short by 72 runs in their run-chase.

In a sensational collapse, Rajasthan -- 26 for one overnight -- lost their last eight wickets for the addition of just 32 runs after being just two down for 288 at one stage and needing to score at just 4.5 runs per over -- the last seven batsmen collectively producing just 18 runs. The inexperienced Rajasthan batsmen -- specifically skipper Gagan Khoda (70: 6x4), centurion Nikhil Doru (105: 11x4) and P. Krishnakumar -- sought the aerial route, thereby wasting their wickets.

The loss was surely not just compensation for opener Doru and Saket Bhatia’s (90: 12x4) brilliant effort. Chasing the daunting target, the duo put Rajasthan on a launch pad from which victory was but just a few steps away. But it was not to be and their 164-run stand for the second wicket in 44.1 overs, and the 26.1 over 124-run stand between Doru and Khoda went in vain.

Scoreboard:
Bombay (1st innings): 336

Rajasthan (1st innings): 229

Bombay (2nd innings): 285 for 5 decl.

Rajasthan (2nd innings; overnight 26 for 1): A S Jain lbw b Saxena 0, N Doru c Muzumdar b Pawar 105, S Bhatia c Dighe b Kannan 90, GK Khoda c Paranjpe b Ramesh Powar 70, PK Krishnakumar c Pawar b Ramesh Powar 1, Sanjeev Sharma st Dighe b Pawar 9, RJ Kanwat run out 5, RB Jhalani c Paranjpe b Pawar 3, DP Singh c&b Pawar 0, JK Sharma c Kambli b Ramesh Powar 0, Shamsher Singh not out 0.

Extras (b-14, lb-5, nb-18) 37. Total (all out, 84.3 overs) 320.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-164, 3-288, 4-290, 5-302, 6-315, 7-319, 8-319, 9-320.

Bowling: Saxena 17-3-73-1 (7nb); Kuruvilla 8-1-29-0 (2nb); Kannan 13-3-47-1 (2nb); Pawar 31.3-5-93-4 (3nb); Ramesh Powar 15-1-59-3 (3nb).

CHANDIGARH: Punjab crushed Bihar by an innings an 20 runs in their Group B Ranji Trophy Super League encounter at the PCA stadium, Mohali, on Tuesday, thanks mainly to the effort of mediumpacer Gagandeep Singh and offspinner Harbhajan Singh.

The duo, who had wreaked havoc in the first innings sharing nine wickets between them (Gagandeep 4 for 44; Harbhajan 5 for 69), once again did the demolition job, accounting for seven wickets between them. Gagandeep took 3 for 65 while Harbhajan scalped 4 for 68 as Bihar -- 259 behind on first innings and 94 for four overnight -- were bowled out for 239.

Punjab thus took their tally to 16 points from three games and remain in contention for a knockout phase berth while Bihar completed their Super League engagements at the bottom of the table with just three points from four games.

Scoreboard
Bihar (1st innings): 244

Punjab (1st innings): 503 for 9 decl.

Bihar (2nd innings; overnight 94 for 4): N Ranjan c&b Harbhajan Singh 21, Javed Khan lbw Gagandeep Singh 3, A Hashmi b Gagandeep Singh 0, Rajiv Kumar lbw Gagandeep Singh 22, Sunil Kumar b Sharandeep Singh 51, Manish Kumar run out (Mongia) 51, MS Dhoni c Ricky b Harbhajan Singh 26, Sanjeev Gupta lbw Sharandeep Singh 0, S Khan not out 30, Anil Kumar lbw Harbhajan Singh 0, Dhiraj Kumar c Mongia b Harbhajan Singh 16.

Extras (lb-9, w-1, nb-9) 19. Total (all out, 75.1 overs) 239.

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-20, 3-46, 4-56, 5-144, 6-191, 7-191, 8-199, 9-203.

Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 17-5-50-0 (9nb); Gagandeep Singh 21-4-65-3 (1w); Harbhajan Singh 23.1-4-68-4; Sharandeep Singh 14-3-47-2.

DELHI: The Railway batsmen, led by Abhay Sharma (59) and skipper Prahlad Rawat (39 not out), defied the Hyderabad bowlers, frustrating their efforts all day long to force a draw and escape with three points in their Group B Ranji Trophy Super League tie at the Ferozeshah Kotla.

Chasing 331 runs for victory, Railways -- one down for 8 at stumps on Monday and never really in with a chance of winning --- seemed headed for defeat, six down for 115, before a gallant rearguard action led by skipper Rawat, saw them hold on and finishing at 182 for seven.

The highlight of the Railways’ innings was Abhay Sharma's patient knock and a 185-minute vigil by Rawat Sharma, whose innings was studded with eight hits to the fence and a huge six of Venkatapathy Raju, reaching his 50 off 69 deliveries. But he lost patience and holed out to Nand Kishore at forward short leg off a Kanwaljeet Singh (4 for 40) delivery that foxed him completely.

Rawat’s stay at the crease was a tale of grit and patience as the skipper, despite an injury, castled one end up. He found able allies in wicketkeeper Sudhir Wankhede and Zakir Hussain, the latter holding on defiantly to eventually return unbeaten on 15. Rawat and Wankhade (15) added 35 runs for the seventh wicket from 27.2 overs and the unbroken eighth wicket partnership between Rawat and Hussain was worth 32 runs from 19.2 overs.

The result put Railways (14 points) on the third place with one match still to go. Punjab, who defeated Bihar in another match in Mohali, are second with 16 points. Baroda are the current leaders with 18 points while Hyderabad are fourth with 13 points from three games.

Scoreboard
Hyderabad (1st innings) 347

Railways (1st innings): 229

Hyderabad (2nd innings): 212 for 7 decl.

Railways (2nd innings; 8 for 1): S Bangar c Raju b Laxman 2, Vishal Sharma c Laxman b Kanwaljit Singh 17, K Parida c Vinay Kumar b Singh 11, Abhay Sharma c Nandakishore b Kanwaljit Singh 59, Y Goud b Kanwaljit Singh 8, PS Rawat not out 39, Devendra Singh c Raju b Kanwaljit Singh 0, S Wankhade c Vinay Kumar b Singh 15, Z Hussain not out 15.

Extras (b-16) 16. Total (7 wickets, 101 overs) 182.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-20, 3-73, 4-102, 5-115, 6-115, 7-150.

Bowling: Singh 13-3-32-2; Raju 28-15-34-0; Laxman 9-1-16-1; Kanwaljit Singh 35-16-40-4; Satwalkar 8-2-28-0; J S Yadav 5-1-16-0; N A Yadav 1-1-0-0; Pratap 2-2-0-0.

CALCUTTA: The Bengal-Karnataka Group A Ranji Trophy Super League match ended in a tame draw at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday, with the hosts taking five crucial points for their first innings lead against the defending champions.

The hosts, 48 runs ahead on first innings and 75 for one overnight, declared their second innings at 264 for 9, with Utpal Chatterjee unable to bat due to a thumb injury. Chasing 312 for victory, Karnataka were one down 52 in their second essay when the proceedings were terminated.

With just 13 points from three matches so far, Bengal will have to go all out against Bombay in their last League encounter at home from March 13 and try and collect at least five points to assure their slot in the quarter-finals.

Karnataka have 11 from three ties and will take on Delhi at home in their last engagement. A lot will depend on these two ties to decide which of the two teams -- Bengal or Karnataka -- will make it to the knock-out phase.

However, Karnataka are slightly better-placed by virtue of an outright win over Rajasthan.

Scoreboard
Bengal (1st innings): 316

Karnataka (1st innings): 268

Bengal (2nd innings; overnight 75 for 1): N Haldipur c Ramesh b Joshi 43, AA Lahiri c Akhil b Prasad 5, Debang Gandhi c Ramesh b Joshi 88, Rohan Gavaskar b Vadiaraj 11, SS Karim not out 55, Charanjeet Singh lbw Vadiaraj 2, V S Yadav lbw Vijay 16, Laxmi Ratan Shukla c Naidu b Joshi 37, S S Lahiri c Joshi b Vadiaraj 0, A Masood c Akhil b Vadiaraj 0.

Extras (b-5, lb-2) 7. Total (9 wickets decl, 87.3 overs) 264

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-103, 3-140, 4-156, 5-161, 6-200, 7-248, 8-252, 9-264.

Bowling: Prasad 12-5-30-1; Ganesh 10-0-40-0; Joshi 39-10-108-3; Vijay 5-1-20-1; Vadiaraj 21.3-6-59-4.

Karnataka (2nd innings): R Barrington not out 36, M Beerala lbw Shukla 1, V Naidu not out 15.

Total (1 wicket, 18 overs) 52.

Fall of wicket: 1-1.

Bowling: Shukla 5-4-8-1; Masood 5-2-11-0; Gavaskar 4-1-17-0; S S Lahiri 3-1-14-0; Haldipur 1-0-2-0.

CUTTACK: A brilliant unbeaten century by Rashmi Ranjan Parida (147) and his match-saving 176-run second wicket stand with skipper Shiv Sunder Das (83) helped Orissa hold out for a draw against Tamil Nadu in their Group C Ranji Trophy Super League tie at the Baramati Stadium on Tuesday.

The hosts, 132 runs behind on first innings and chasing an improbable 442 for victory, were 311 for three when the umpires called an end to the match.

Tamil Nadu, because of their first innings lead, earned five points and took their tally to 21 points from three matches. Orissa got three points and now have 11 points from three outings.

Scoreboard
Tamil Nadu (1st innings): 327

Orissa (1st innings): 195

Tamil Nadu (2nd innings): 309 for 8 decl.

Orissa (2nd innings: 36 for 1): S S Das c Sharath b Kapoor 83, P Das c Reuben Paul b Gokulakrishna 0, R Parida not out 147, Sanjay Raul b Kapoor 42, P Mullick not out 21.

Extras (b-2, lb-8, w-2, nb-6) 18. Total (3 wickets, 103 overs) 311.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-176, 3-265.

Bowling: Mahesh 22-7-44-0 (1nb, 2w); Gokulakrishna 14-2-53-1 (2nb); Kapoor 31-6-89-2 (3nb); Saravanan 3-0-12-0; Sriram 15-4-42-0; Bhatia 3-0-10-0; Satyajit Medappa 14-2-30-0; Madanagopal 1-0-4-0.