Ranji Trophy | Elite Group B - Saurashtra inch closer to victory as Mumbai, Karnataka and Railways take control Day 2

12/10/2019

Saurashtra bowled out Himachal Pradesh for 182 in their second innings and need just 66 more runs for a victory. Meanwhile, Railways closed out Uttar Pradesh for 175, leading by 136 runs as Mumbai are one wicket away from a first-innings lead with Karnataka having the upper hand against Tamil Nadu.

Harvik Desai’s early aggression puts Saurashtra close to victory

Brief Scores : Saurashtra 141, 96/3 need 66 runs to win against Himachal Pradesh 120, 182

After bundling Himachal Pradesh on Day 2 for 182 runs, Saurashtra required 162 runs in their second innings on a tricky situation for a victory. Opener Harvik Desai’s knock of 46 ensured that Saurashtra got off to a quick start, with their star player Cheteshwar Pujara still waiting in the hut ahead of Day 3. With the ball, Jayadev Unadkat led the charge with figures of 6/51 putting the away side closer to a victory.

Shams Mulani, Kedar Devdhar grab limelight on Day 2

Brief Scores : Baroda 301/9 (Kedar Devdhar 154*) trail Mumbai 431 (Shams Mulani 5-99) by 130 runs

Baroda, chasing a mountain first innings total of 431 runs set by Mumbai on Day 2, were reduced to 7/1 before Vishnu Solanki and Kedar Devdhar stitched up a 105-run partnership for the 2nd wicket but it ended with Shams Mulani broke through. Contributions from Deepak Hooda, Viraj Bhosale, and Bhargav Bhatt alongside Devdhar took the innings forward for the hosts. However, wickets fell at regular intervals with a stranded Devdhar on 154* as Baroda trail Mumbai by 130 runs. Mulani’s 5-99 put Mumbai closer to a first-innings lead.

Krishnappa Gowtham triggers a mini-collapse for Tamil Nadu

Brief scores : Tamil Nadu 165/4 (Abhinav Mukund 47) trail Karnataka 336 (K Gowtham 3/61) by 171 runs

After dismissing Karnataka for 336 in their first innings, Tamil Nadu had a steep chase to salvage the first-innings lead at home. A brisk start from Abhinav Mukund and Murali Vijay meant that Tamil Nadu got closer to Karnataka’s 336, before offie Krishnappa Gowtham’s twin blow broken the opening pair and put the middle order to play. Vijay Shankar and Baba Aparajith threw their start away, as Dinesh Karthik held the fort for the hosts on Day 2, still trailing the visitors by 171 runs.

Railways and Uttar Pradesh fight it out even on Day 2

Brief Scores : Railways 253, 58/5 lead by 136 runs against Uttar Pradesh 175

Railways and Uttar Pradesh ended up even on Day 2 after Amit Mishra’s 4/52 helped in dismissing the hosts to 175 at the end of their first innings. UP’s opener Almas Shaukat carried the bat with 92 runs, scoring 10 boundaries and 5 sixes as Saurabh Kumar and Yash Dayal chipped in late with the bat. Further, UP’s bowlers reduced Railways to 58/5 at the end of Day 2, with the away side leading by 136 runs going into Day 3 of the encounter.