Bhajji leads Punjab fightback
10 Jan 2014 5:19 AM IST
Punjab scored a decent 304 in their first innings as Harbhajan and No 9 batsman Sandeep Sharma (51) added an invaluable 105 runs for the eighth wicket after J&K seam trio of Samiullah Beigh (2/56), Ram Dayal (3/59) and Umar Nazir (4/66) reduced them to 146 for seven.
At stumps, J&K were 11 for one after opener Obaid Haroon (4) edged one from Sandeep to wicketkeeper Gitansh Khera. Using the helpful conditions, J&K bowlers, especially seamer Dayal caused a lot of discomfort for Punjab’s top-order batsmen including Yuvraj Singh (10) but the more experienced Punjab team finally wriggled out of trouble. Coming back after a shoulder niggle that kept him out for more than six weeks, Harbhajan clobbered eight fours and six sixes in his 80-ball knock before he was out trying to slog sweep opposite number Parvez Rasool over short fine leg.
It was a duel between two offies in which Harbhajan clearly emerged as the winner over his talented younger opponent. Harbhajan in fact punished Rasool hitting him for five sixes in seven balls with a couple that landed outside the Moti Baug ground over deep mid-wicket fence. Two more were hit over sight screen clearing the ground while another was also hit towards the deep end. Rasool had a poor outing with the ball as he went for 64 runs in 13 overs.
Harbhajan got good support from Sandeep, who played the role of second fiddle to perfection by rotating the strike. Harbhajan scored 68 off his 92 runs in boundaries and with only 14 scoring strokes.
Brief Scores:
Punjab 304 all out in 81.2 overs (Harbhajan Singh 92, Sandeep Sharma 51, Yuvraj Singh 10, Umar Nazir 4/66, Samiullah Beigh 2/56). J&K 11/1 in 4 overs (Sharma 1/5).
Uthappa, Nair put Karnataka in control
Bangalore: Robin Uthappa roared back into form with a century, while Karun Nair also cracked a brilliant hundred as the two overcame early jitters to help Karnataka reach 297 for five against Uttar Pradesh on the opening day of their quarterfinal Ranji Trophy match on Wednesday.
The cynosure of all eyes on the day was Nair as, he, apart from scoring a ton, was also involved in two century partnerships at crucial points in the game, which helped Karnataka steady their wobbly ship. Put in to bat by UP, Karnataka lost three of their top order batsmen for a duck each.
From 15 for three at one stage, Uthappa and Nair joined hands to put on a solid 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket to consolidate the innings, before Nair coupled with Chidambaram Gautam (89 not out) for another crucial 162 runs for the fifth wicket to bail the hosts out of trouble. Out of Karnataka’s total of 297 on day one, three batsmen, Uthappa, Nair and Gautam, scored 289 runs.
Brief Scores:
K’taka 297 for 5 (Uthappa 100, Nair 100, Gautam 89*) v UP.
Yadav rescues Mumbai
Mumbai: Out-of-form Suryakumar Yadav notched up a timely, counter-attacking hundred to steer defending champions Mumbai to 306 for seven against Maharashtra in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
Coming in to bat when Mumbai were tottering at 101 for four after lunch, Yadav (120) and Vinit Indulkar (82), playing his first match for Mumbai after returning to its fold following a three-season stint with Himachal Pradesh, hit back in style to help the hosts steady the boat. Maharashtra bounced back late in the day when medium pacer Anupam Sanklecha dismissed both the batsmen, while Samad Fallah took the wicket of Shardul Thakur (4). At stumps, Iqbal Abdulla (9 not out) and captain Zaheer Khan (5 not out) were at the crease.
The visitors had the 40-time champions on the rack after winning the toss, but they let the game slip away when Yadav, who batted for 209 minutes and faced 139 balls while hitting 18 fours, attacked the bowling. Indulkar also chipped in with important runs as he played the supporting role to a nicety.
Brief Scores: Mumbai 306 for 7 (Indulkar 82, Yadav 120) v Maharashtra.
At stumps, J&K were 11 for one after opener Obaid Haroon (4) edged one from Sandeep to wicketkeeper Gitansh Khera. Using the helpful conditions, J&K bowlers, especially seamer Dayal caused a lot of discomfort for Punjab’s top-order batsmen including Yuvraj Singh (10) but the more experienced Punjab team finally wriggled out of trouble. Coming back after a shoulder niggle that kept him out for more than six weeks, Harbhajan clobbered eight fours and six sixes in his 80-ball knock before he was out trying to slog sweep opposite number Parvez Rasool over short fine leg.
It was a duel between two offies in which Harbhajan clearly emerged as the winner over his talented younger opponent. Harbhajan in fact punished Rasool hitting him for five sixes in seven balls with a couple that landed outside the Moti Baug ground over deep mid-wicket fence. Two more were hit over sight screen clearing the ground while another was also hit towards the deep end. Rasool had a poor outing with the ball as he went for 64 runs in 13 overs.
Harbhajan got good support from Sandeep, who played the role of second fiddle to perfection by rotating the strike. Harbhajan scored 68 off his 92 runs in boundaries and with only 14 scoring strokes.
Brief Scores:
Punjab 304 all out in 81.2 overs (Harbhajan Singh 92, Sandeep Sharma 51, Yuvraj Singh 10, Umar Nazir 4/66, Samiullah Beigh 2/56). J&K 11/1 in 4 overs (Sharma 1/5).
Uthappa, Nair put Karnataka in control
Bangalore: Robin Uthappa roared back into form with a century, while Karun Nair also cracked a brilliant hundred as the two overcame early jitters to help Karnataka reach 297 for five against Uttar Pradesh on the opening day of their quarterfinal Ranji Trophy match on Wednesday.
The cynosure of all eyes on the day was Nair as, he, apart from scoring a ton, was also involved in two century partnerships at crucial points in the game, which helped Karnataka steady their wobbly ship. Put in to bat by UP, Karnataka lost three of their top order batsmen for a duck each.
From 15 for three at one stage, Uthappa and Nair joined hands to put on a solid 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket to consolidate the innings, before Nair coupled with Chidambaram Gautam (89 not out) for another crucial 162 runs for the fifth wicket to bail the hosts out of trouble. Out of Karnataka’s total of 297 on day one, three batsmen, Uthappa, Nair and Gautam, scored 289 runs.
Brief Scores:
K’taka 297 for 5 (Uthappa 100, Nair 100, Gautam 89*) v UP.
Yadav rescues Mumbai
Mumbai: Out-of-form Suryakumar Yadav notched up a timely, counter-attacking hundred to steer defending champions Mumbai to 306 for seven against Maharashtra in their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
Coming in to bat when Mumbai were tottering at 101 for four after lunch, Yadav (120) and Vinit Indulkar (82), playing his first match for Mumbai after returning to its fold following a three-season stint with Himachal Pradesh, hit back in style to help the hosts steady the boat. Maharashtra bounced back late in the day when medium pacer Anupam Sanklecha dismissed both the batsmen, while Samad Fallah took the wicket of Shardul Thakur (4). At stumps, Iqbal Abdulla (9 not out) and captain Zaheer Khan (5 not out) were at the crease.
The visitors had the 40-time champions on the rack after winning the toss, but they let the game slip away when Yadav, who batted for 209 minutes and faced 139 balls while hitting 18 fours, attacked the bowling. Indulkar also chipped in with important runs as he played the supporting role to a nicety.
Brief Scores: Mumbai 306 for 7 (Indulkar 82, Yadav 120) v Maharashtra.
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