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Virat Singh and Kumar Kushagra’s centuries on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy 2022 pre-quarter final game helps Jharkhand dominate Nagaland. Jharkhand scored at a rapid rate on Day 1 as they posted 402/5 in 87 overs.
Earlier Nagaland skipper Rongsen Jonathan won the toss and opted to bowl first at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Nagaland new ball bowlers did not get early wickets but after an hour's play, they got rid of both openers. Utkarsh Singh and MD Nazim scored 36 and 28 runs respectively. Both the batters scored at a good rate against the fast bowlers. The openers got out in a space of six deliveries.
Kumar Suraj and skipper Saurabh Tiwary ensured no more wickets fall in the first session. In the second session, Tiwary lost the battle of captains as he was dismissed by Jonathan. The southpaw could score 29 runs from 56 deliveries. Suraj got to his half-century before the tea break but he was trapped in front of the wickets by Khrievitso Kense for a score of 66. He struck 11 fours and one six in his 92-ball 66.
Jharkhand middle-order batters took charge of the first innings and tested Nagaland bowlers. The two went on to share a 175-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Virat scored 107 runs from 153 deliveries including 13 boundaries. The left-handed batter lost his wicket to Imliwati Lemtur when the second new ball was taken.
On the other hand, wicketkeeper-batter Kushagra made use of the hardness of new ball to score quick boundaries. The 17-year-old remained unbeaten for a run-a-ball 112 which was studded with 16 fours and one six. India's 2018 World Cup-winning team member Anukul Roy too scored quickly and walked back to the dressing room unbeaten on 21 off 19 deliveries.
Apart from new ball bowlers, Abu Nechim and Raja Ranjit Swarnkar, the five other bowlers picked up one wicket each on Day 1. Jharkhand will look to post a score in excess of 600 on Day 2 and then ask Nagaland batters to bat towards the end of second session or in the final session.
