VRV bowls Pun into semis; Mum shocked
13 Jan 2014 4:21 AM IST
Seamer VRV Singh (in pic) returned with a five-wicket haul as Punjab dismissed Jammu and Kashmir, chasing a target of 324, for 233 in their second innings.
Singh ran through the lower middle-order, dismissing skipper Parveez Rasool (10), Manzoor Dar (10), Obaid Haroon (0) and Samiullah Beigh (2) in quick time to derail J&K’s chase at the Moti Bagh Stadium. Punjab will now face Karnataka in the semifinal to be held in Mohali from January 18.
First down batsman Hardeep Singh, who was retired hurt at the score of 43 and came back to bat again when the score read 146/7, was unbeaten with a 135-ball 76, which was studded with nine hits to the fence. Chasing 324, J&K resumed their second innings at 77-2 Saturday but their hopes of a successfully chasing the target for a maiden semi-final appearance in the Ranji Trophy came crashing soon.
Sandeep Sharma made good use of the opportunity by cleaning up Dayal (14) in the 40th over and two overs later, VRV Singh triggered a collapse with a twin-strike in the 43rd over leaving J&K reeling at 135 for 6.
Jadav, Zol star for Maharashtra
MUMBAI: Reigning champions Mumbai were shockingly shown the door by minnows Maharashtra, who showed tremendous resilience to record a come-from-behind eight-wicket victory on Saturday for a place in the Ranji Trophy semifinals. Set a target of 252 to chase for only their third outright victory in the long-running competition over the 40-time winners, Maharashtra rode on an unbeaten century from Kedar Jadhav (120 not out) and his superb 215-run unconquered third-wicket stand with 19-year-old Vijay Zol (91 not out) to turn the tables on the home team on the fourth day of the five-day match.
Jadhav, who made 51 in the first innings and also crossed 1000 runs for the season during this excellent knock, faced 144 balls and hit 14 fours and three sixes in his 239-minute knock. It was the latter’s fifth century of the season and ninth in his first-class career since debuting in 2007-08. Zol faced 180 balls and struck 13 fours in his 258-minute unbeaten knock. Maharashtra’s victory came 10 minutes before tea when Jadhav fittingly swung Thakur for a four. Maharashtra would meet the winners of the other quarterfinal between Bengal and Railways in the semi-finals scheduled at Indore’s Holkar Stadium from January 18-22.
Karnataka thrash UP
BANGALORE: Riding on right arm leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal’s five-wicket haul, Karnataka beat Uttar Pradesh by 92 runs to enter into the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Chasing a target of 333, UP were bundled out for 240 in 65.3 overs. Batting first, Karnataka had scored 349 all out in the first innings with centuries from Robin Uthappa, Karun Nair and Chidambaram Gautam. In reply, UP declared their first innings at 221 for nine and their bowlers came back strongly to skittle Karnataka all out for 204 in their second innings.
With the match evenly poised at the resumption of the fourth day Saturday, Karnataka bowlers wrested the initiative from the visitors as they used the early morning conditions to their advantage, picking up five wickets to put UP almost out of contention.
But Eklavya Dwivedi (33) and Piyush Chawla (44) put on a solid 70-run partnership for the seventh wicket to give Karnataka some anxious moments by keeping UP just 125 runs in sight of a victory. The 20-year-old Gopal, however, had the last laugh as he sent home the first innings half-centurion Chawla, caught by Karun Nair, shattering UP’s hopes. Gopal scalped five wickets for 59 in the second innings, unlike in the first innings, where he went wicket-less after conceding 30 runs.
Railways hold slight edge
KOLKATA: Railways captain Murali Kartik took the attack back to the opposition camp with a timely half-century as the visitors need another 154 runs with seven wickets in hand as their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against hosts Bengal hangs in balance at the end of the fourth day. Chasing a target of 271, Railways were 117 for three at stumps with in-form Arindam Ghosh batting on 14 in company of Nitin Bhille (1 batting).
With Bengal’s nemesis Mahesh Rawat yet to come out, skipper Kartik would expect that his knock of 56 will certainly give Railways the edge over Laxmi Ratan Shukla’s boys. Earlier, Bengal scored 267 in their second innings courtesy Wriddhiman Saha’s 81 and Ashoke Dinda’s cameo of 27 not out off 24 balls. Railways were chugging in the right track with 100 for no loss in the 33rd over with Kartik promoting himself to opening slot for the second time this season after their win against Services. For the Railways, pacer Anureet Singh bagged 5/72 his fifth five-wicket haul this season.
After a controversy-filled last evening when he and pacer Anureet were heckled by spectators, veteran India discard showed a lot of character hitting three sixes en route to a 89-ball half-century as they looked in firm control. But all hell broke loose at the fag end of the day when Bengal skipper Shukla triggered a collapse in his third over, the 33rd over of the day as Railways lost three wickets for three runs in a space of 17 balls to end the day on backfoot.
Bengal stepped up the tempo after the three wickets as Dinda attacked with a barrage of bouncers while verbal abuses too flew thick and fast in the middle as Railways ended the day for 117/3 after 43 overs, still needing 154 to win with seven wickets in hand.
Kartik shouldered arm to a good length delivery from Shukla only to be adjudged leg before wicket as a sleepy Eden with about 2,000 spectators erupted in joy. The veteran India left arm spinner hit four boundaries and three sixes in his 102-ball knock. There was more drama when Sourav Sarkar effected a fine run out of Amit Paunikar with a direct hit from deep fine leg.
Going for a second run, Paunikar was short of the crease at the non-striker’s end to see his innings fold for 41 as the Eden crowd who seemed to have gone for an afternoon slumber started roaring. Just three balls after the direct hit, a charged up Dinda bowled Shivakant Shukla who played on to his stumps and was out for a golden duck to leave Railway reeling for 103/3. Earlier, resuming at 133 for four after a controversy-filled day, Bengal duo of Shukla and Saha showed positive intent with the Bengal skipper striking two successive fours on either side of the wicket.
Singh ran through the lower middle-order, dismissing skipper Parveez Rasool (10), Manzoor Dar (10), Obaid Haroon (0) and Samiullah Beigh (2) in quick time to derail J&K’s chase at the Moti Bagh Stadium. Punjab will now face Karnataka in the semifinal to be held in Mohali from January 18.
First down batsman Hardeep Singh, who was retired hurt at the score of 43 and came back to bat again when the score read 146/7, was unbeaten with a 135-ball 76, which was studded with nine hits to the fence. Chasing 324, J&K resumed their second innings at 77-2 Saturday but their hopes of a successfully chasing the target for a maiden semi-final appearance in the Ranji Trophy came crashing soon.
Sandeep Sharma made good use of the opportunity by cleaning up Dayal (14) in the 40th over and two overs later, VRV Singh triggered a collapse with a twin-strike in the 43rd over leaving J&K reeling at 135 for 6.
Jadav, Zol star for Maharashtra
MUMBAI: Reigning champions Mumbai were shockingly shown the door by minnows Maharashtra, who showed tremendous resilience to record a come-from-behind eight-wicket victory on Saturday for a place in the Ranji Trophy semifinals. Set a target of 252 to chase for only their third outright victory in the long-running competition over the 40-time winners, Maharashtra rode on an unbeaten century from Kedar Jadhav (120 not out) and his superb 215-run unconquered third-wicket stand with 19-year-old Vijay Zol (91 not out) to turn the tables on the home team on the fourth day of the five-day match.
Jadhav, who made 51 in the first innings and also crossed 1000 runs for the season during this excellent knock, faced 144 balls and hit 14 fours and three sixes in his 239-minute knock. It was the latter’s fifth century of the season and ninth in his first-class career since debuting in 2007-08. Zol faced 180 balls and struck 13 fours in his 258-minute unbeaten knock. Maharashtra’s victory came 10 minutes before tea when Jadhav fittingly swung Thakur for a four. Maharashtra would meet the winners of the other quarterfinal between Bengal and Railways in the semi-finals scheduled at Indore’s Holkar Stadium from January 18-22.
Karnataka thrash UP
BANGALORE: Riding on right arm leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal’s five-wicket haul, Karnataka beat Uttar Pradesh by 92 runs to enter into the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Chasing a target of 333, UP were bundled out for 240 in 65.3 overs. Batting first, Karnataka had scored 349 all out in the first innings with centuries from Robin Uthappa, Karun Nair and Chidambaram Gautam. In reply, UP declared their first innings at 221 for nine and their bowlers came back strongly to skittle Karnataka all out for 204 in their second innings.
With the match evenly poised at the resumption of the fourth day Saturday, Karnataka bowlers wrested the initiative from the visitors as they used the early morning conditions to their advantage, picking up five wickets to put UP almost out of contention.
But Eklavya Dwivedi (33) and Piyush Chawla (44) put on a solid 70-run partnership for the seventh wicket to give Karnataka some anxious moments by keeping UP just 125 runs in sight of a victory. The 20-year-old Gopal, however, had the last laugh as he sent home the first innings half-centurion Chawla, caught by Karun Nair, shattering UP’s hopes. Gopal scalped five wickets for 59 in the second innings, unlike in the first innings, where he went wicket-less after conceding 30 runs.
Railways hold slight edge
KOLKATA: Railways captain Murali Kartik took the attack back to the opposition camp with a timely half-century as the visitors need another 154 runs with seven wickets in hand as their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against hosts Bengal hangs in balance at the end of the fourth day. Chasing a target of 271, Railways were 117 for three at stumps with in-form Arindam Ghosh batting on 14 in company of Nitin Bhille (1 batting).
With Bengal’s nemesis Mahesh Rawat yet to come out, skipper Kartik would expect that his knock of 56 will certainly give Railways the edge over Laxmi Ratan Shukla’s boys. Earlier, Bengal scored 267 in their second innings courtesy Wriddhiman Saha’s 81 and Ashoke Dinda’s cameo of 27 not out off 24 balls. Railways were chugging in the right track with 100 for no loss in the 33rd over with Kartik promoting himself to opening slot for the second time this season after their win against Services. For the Railways, pacer Anureet Singh bagged 5/72 his fifth five-wicket haul this season.
After a controversy-filled last evening when he and pacer Anureet were heckled by spectators, veteran India discard showed a lot of character hitting three sixes en route to a 89-ball half-century as they looked in firm control. But all hell broke loose at the fag end of the day when Bengal skipper Shukla triggered a collapse in his third over, the 33rd over of the day as Railways lost three wickets for three runs in a space of 17 balls to end the day on backfoot.
Bengal stepped up the tempo after the three wickets as Dinda attacked with a barrage of bouncers while verbal abuses too flew thick and fast in the middle as Railways ended the day for 117/3 after 43 overs, still needing 154 to win with seven wickets in hand.
Kartik shouldered arm to a good length delivery from Shukla only to be adjudged leg before wicket as a sleepy Eden with about 2,000 spectators erupted in joy. The veteran India left arm spinner hit four boundaries and three sixes in his 102-ball knock. There was more drama when Sourav Sarkar effected a fine run out of Amit Paunikar with a direct hit from deep fine leg.
Going for a second run, Paunikar was short of the crease at the non-striker’s end to see his innings fold for 41 as the Eden crowd who seemed to have gone for an afternoon slumber started roaring. Just three balls after the direct hit, a charged up Dinda bowled Shivakant Shukla who played on to his stumps and was out for a golden duck to leave Railway reeling for 103/3. Earlier, resuming at 133 for four after a controversy-filled day, Bengal duo of Shukla and Saha showed positive intent with the Bengal skipper striking two successive fours on either side of the wicket.
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