Ranji Trophy 2015, Group A: Karnataka keep nerves to draw against Haryana

Haryana fell only two wickets short from claiming an outright win against Karnataka. (Source: PTI)

Haryana fell two wickets short of claiming their first outright victory against defending champions Karnataka but the Virender Sehwag-led side bagged their first three points of the season in the drawn Group A Ranji Trophy cricket match, Mysuru on Sunday.

After an exemplary 136 by Sehwag in the first innings, Haryana bowlers made it count in the rest of the four-day encounter as the hosts, who came close to losing their first Ranji game in almost three years, were left in tatters at 202 for eight while chasing a victory target of 373 runs.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){ jQuery('.rel-article').bxSlider({ maxSlides: 6, slideMargin: 3 }); });

Off-spinner Jayant Yadav, who scored a century during his 206-run third-wicket stand with Sehwag, picked 6 wickets in the final innings to give the Vinay Kumar-side a scare in the final session of the fourth day.

For the visitors, Nitin Saini also scored a useful 52 in the second innings as Sehwag struck a 40, while dropping himself to number seven. Off-spinner Rahul Dagar’s three wickets are also worth a mention, which helped bundle out Karnataka for 221 in their first innings.

In their second outing, Robin Uthappa (66) gave the hosts a good start but Yadav soon spun a web after sharing the new ball with pace spearhead Harshal Patel. Harshal and Ashish Hooda picked up a wicket each.

Yadav tasted his first blood after he claimed the prized wicket of Samarth, who was caught by H J Rana. The Haryana spinner then sent back top Karnataka batsmen Karun Nair, Uthappa and Chidambaram Gautam, leaving Karnataka struggling at 164 for five.

Vinay (3) was picked up by Patel, following which Yadav claimed next two wickets of Jagaeesha Suchith (6) and Shreyas Gopal (24), leaving Karnataka hopelessly situated at 197 for eight, needing 176 runs more to register an outright victory.

With uncertainties looming large of the availability of the indisposed H S Sharath and injured Pandey to join Mathias, Pandey walked into the middle with three stitches in his right hand and faced the odds whilst bearing the pain.

Brief Scores: Haryana 170 and 262 Karnataka 221 and 202/8 in 98 overs (Robin Uthappa 66, Lokesh Rahul 24; Jayant Yadav 6-65)

Points: Haryana 3, Karnataka 1.

Menaria unbeaten ton in drawn game; Maha take 3 points

Rajasthan captain Ashok Menaria struck an unbeaten century to thwart Maharashtra’s hopes of securing an outright win in their Ranji Trophy cricket match in Jaipur on Sunday.

Menaria (150 not out) was helped by his team-mates Rajat Bhatia (64) and Dishant Yagnik (58 not out) in Rajasthan’s effort to draw the Group B match and at least secure one point out of the tie at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Maharashtra got three points on the basis of their 91-run first innings lead.

Brief Scores: Maharashtra 409 (Rahul Tripathi 119, Chirag Khurana 77; Ankush Bikram Singh 4/87, Chahar 3/94) and 17 for 0 drew with Rajasthan 318 (Ashok Menaria 84, Rajat Bhatia 59; Samad Fallah 3/77, Shrikant Mundhe 3/94) and 334 for 5 dec (Ashok Menaria 150 not out, Bhatia 64; Mundhe 2/51).

Fazal, Jaffer steer Vidarbha to three-wicket win over Assam

Faiz Fazal (63) and Wasim Jaffer (71) shared an 124-run opening partnership to steer Vidarbha to a three-wicket victory over Assam on the fourth and final day of their Group A Ranji Trophy cricket match at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here today.

Chasing 213 to win, Vidarbha resumed their second innings at 88 for no loss as Fazal and Jaffer continued their good work and notched up their individual half-centuries.

Brief Score: Assam 206 & 160 Vidarbha 154 & 215/7 in 74 overs (W Jaffer 71; Amit Verma 3/55, S Purkayastha 3/90)