Synopsis
In the latest Ranji Trophy matches, Madhya Pradesh dominated Kerala with standout performances from Patidar and Iyer, while Vijay Shankar’s unbeaten century guided Tamil Nadu toward a significant win against Chandigarh. Chhattisgarh and Assam also showcased strong efforts in their respective matches.Key Takeaways
- Madhya Pradesh sets a challenging target of 363 for Kerala.
- Rajat Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer shine for Madhya Pradesh.
- Vijay Shankar scores an unbeaten 150 leading Tamil Nadu.
- Chhattisgarh takes a slender lead against Jharkhand.
- Sumit Ghadigaonkar's century keeps Assam in the contest.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 25 (NationPress) Former champions Madhya Pradesh showcased their strength against Kerala in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C encounter held at the Greenfield International Stadium, imposing a challenging target of 363 runs for the hosts to secure victory. The standout performers of the day were Rajat Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer, who played contrasting yet equally significant innings to propel their team to a dominant stance.
Starting the day with their captain Shubham Sharma at the crease, Madhya Pradesh faced an early setback when Shubham was dismissed by Basil NP just after completing his half-century. However, Patidar stepped up to stabilize the innings with a graceful performance. His drives and punches through the cover region were a spectacle, with six of his 11 boundaries originating from that area.
Patidar seemed poised for a well-earned century but fell short by eight runs, edging a fuller delivery from Basil to the slip cordon. Basil emerged as Kerala’s leading bowler, consistently challenging the batters and concluding with a four-wicket haul.
Following lunch, Kerala’s spinners Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate claimed wickets to disrupt Madhya Pradesh’s rhythm. However, the final session witnessed a stunning counterattack from Venkatesh Iyer. Renowned for his power-hitting, Iyer targeted Saxena, launching four sixes in a single over. He even broke a dressing room window with a colossal six off MD Nidheesh. Iyer’s explosive performance led to Madhya Pradesh declaring at 369/8, leaving Kerala with over three sessions to chase 363 runs. At stumps, Kerala stood at 28 for 1, with Rohan Kunnummal and Akshay Chandran starting well before the latter was dismissed by Kumar Kartikeya Singh on the day’s final ball.
Vijay Shankar’s century powers TN
All-rounder Vijay Shankar delivered a brilliant performance with an unbeaten 150 as Tamil Nadu moved closer to a decisive win against Chandigarh in their Elite Group D match in Salem. Shankar’s innings, paired with Narayan Jagadeesan’s 89, assisted Tamil Nadu in rebounding from a precarious position and establishing a significant target of 403 runs.
Beginning at 27/2, Tamil Nadu lost Ajith Ram (7) and Baba Indrajith (3) quickly. Shankar then joined Jagadeesan, forming a 152-run partnership to stabilize the innings.
Shankar’s innings included 12 fours and five sixes, exhibiting a blend of patience and aggression. Jagadeesan narrowly missed a century, yet his contribution was crucial in propelling Tamil Nadu’s declaration at 305/5. In pursuit of 403, Chandigarh found themselves at 113 for 5 at stumps. Captain Manan Vohra was holding on at 47, while Vishu Kashyap (4) was with him. The bowlers from Tamil Nadu, led by Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore and S Ajith Ram, dismantled the top order. Chandigarh still requires 290 runs on the final day to achieve a remarkable victory.
Chhattisgarh takes a narrow lead against Jharkhand
In Jamshedpur, Chhattisgarh managed to secure a 59-run lead over Jharkhand by stumps on Day 3, finishing at 205/4 in their second innings. Anuj Tiwary (66) and Ashutosh Singh (64) were the principal contributors with the bat.
Jharkhand resumed their innings at 304/4 and were bowled out for 376, obtaining a 146-run lead. Sumit Ruikar was the standout bowler for Chhattisgarh, claiming 4 wickets for 87 runs. In response, Chhattisgarh began cautiously but gained momentum through fifties from Tiwary and Ashutosh Singh. At stumps, Sanjeet Desai (23) and Gagandeep Singh (0) were at the crease, looking to extend the lead on the final day.
Ghadigaonkar’s century keeps Assam in contention
Assam mounted a comeback against Railways, reaching 175 for 4 at stumps on Day 3, trailing by 75 runs. Sumit Ghadigaonkar’s unbeaten century was the highlight of the day. Railways added just 52 runs to their overnight score of 198/5 before being bowled out for 250. Upendra Yadav completed a resilient century, but the remainder of the lineup failed to capitalize. Assam’s bowlers shared the spoils, keeping Railways in check.
In reply, Ghadigaonkar anchored the innings with an unbeaten 100, while Sibsankar Roy contributed with a half-century. Swarupam Puryayastha (15*) remained at the crease with Ghadigaonkar at stumps, as Assam aims to secure a critical first-innings lead on the final day.
