The third day of Ranji Trophy saw some exceptional performances where batters continued their blitz. Tamil Nadu's Shahrukh Khan hogged Day 3's limelight while Jammu & Kashmir's Abdul Samad scored the second-fastest century in the history of Ranji Trophy on Saturday (February 19). Hyderabad's Hanuma Vihar also struck a superb ton to stamp his authority with the willow.
On the other hand, after Ajinkya Rahane's century on Day one, all eyes were on Cheteshwar Pujara who continued to disappoint with the willow as he was out for a duck during Saurashtra's innings.
Shahrukh's 148-ball 194 powers TN past Delhi
Fresh from a million dollar plus IPL contract and some quality time among world beaters in the Indian dressing room, M Shahrukh Khan showed his wares in red ball format with magnificent 148-ball-194 that ensured first innings lead for Tamil Nadu against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy.
Coming in to bat at number seven with Tami Nadu in deep trouble, Shahrukh soaked up the pressure as he fell just six short of converting his maiden first-class century into a double but put Tamil in front with his 10 sixes and 20 fours. Using his long levers and brute power, Shahrukh hit some flat sixes that crash landed on the stands and most of it was in the straight arc between long off and long on.
Resuming at a tricky 75 for two on third day after Delhi's innings ended at a commanding 452, Tamil Nadu made a strong riposte on the third day of the Elite Group H match with the 26-year-old Shahrukh leading the way.
Tamil Nadu were all out for 494 before stumps were called, securing a vital first-innings lead of 42 runs.
The experienced Baba Indrajith, too, made a handsome contribution, stroking his way to 117 off 149 balls at the Barsapara Stadium that witnessed a barrage of fours and sixes, leaving the formidable outfit from the country's north stunned.
On a day that truly belonged to Shahrukh, who was bought by Punjab Kings for Rs 9 crore in the IPL mega auction last weekend, left-arm spinner Vikas Mishra emerged as Delhi's most successful bowler as he returned figures of 6/108 after a hard day's work.
In the other match of the group, Chattisgarh beat Jharkhand by eight wickets inside three days to get full points.
Samad's 2nd fastest ton
Abdul Samad, who is playing for the Jammu and Kashmir team, recorded a destructive innings. He scored the second-fastest century in the history of Ranji Trophy. He scored the century off just 68 balls. Samad played an innings of 103 runs which was loaded with 19 boundaries and two sixes.
Indian team's wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant currently holds the record of fastest century scored in Ranji Trophy.
Puducherry scored 343 runs in the first innings and their batter Paras Dogra played a superb innings as he scored a ton (108 runs off 187 balls). Later, their wicketkeeper S Karthik scored 63 runs off 131 balls. For Jammu and Kashmir, Adbul Samad picked up a wicket conceding 29 runs in 6 overs.
In reply, Jammu and Kashmir made a huge score of 400 runs losing 8 wickets in the first innings (update till lunch break). Abdul Samad smashed Puducherry bowlers and hit 19 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Pujara flop show
After Ajinkya Rahane's century on Day 1, all eyes were on the other India batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, to score some runs during Saurashtra's innings in the contest against Mumbai. It was an anti-climax, Pujara was out for a duck. Saurashtra was bowled out for 220 to hand Mumbai a first-innings lead of 324 runs.
Punjab in command vs Himachal Pradesh
Punjab bowlers complemented superb show by batters to put their team in the driver's seat against Himachal Pradesh in their group F Ranji Trophy fixture at the Kotla Stadium here on Saturday.
Mayank Markande grabbed 2/51, while Baltej Singh and Arshdeep Singh bagged one each to reduce Himachal Pradesh to 151/5 in their second essay, still needing 21 runs to overcome their first innings deficit.
Earlier, resuming on 394/3, Punjab put up a strong show lower down the order to notch 526 in their first innings.
Overnight 62, Mandeep Singh stitched a fine 71-run stand with Sanvir Singh (48) for the sixth wicket before getting out for 84.
Punjab also got significant contributions from Ashwini Kumar (22 not out from 38 balls) and lastman Arshdeep Singh (26 from 27 balls) to go past the 500-run mark and extend their lead to 172 runs.
Skipper Abhimanyu keeps Bengal in hunt with unbeaten fifty
Talented India A batter Abhimanyu Easwaran led from the front with an unbeaten 79 as Bengal fought back in their second essay to keep their hopes alive in their Ranji Trophy group B match against Baroda at Barabati Stadium here on Saturday.
Chasing a challenging 349 to win, Bengal were 146 for 2 on the penultimate day with Abhimanyu (79 from 114 balls) batting alongside Anustup Majumdar on 22 (51 balls; 2x4) as the match is heading for a thrilling finish.
Bengal require 203 on the final day, while Baroda need eight wickets to seal the issue.
Gujarat take first innings lead; MP fight back
Gujarat took a 57-run first innings lead in the Elite A group Ranji Trophy game against Madhya Pradesh here on Saturday, but the central team fought back in their second essay.
Having shot out Madhya Pradesh for 274 in their first essay, Gujarat managed to post 331, courtesy a vital 54 by Karan Patel, who hit 10 boundaries and equally important 32 by Roosh Kalaria.
Gujarat was trailing by just 30 runs when they resumed their innings, and it was Karan Patel, who added 14 runs to his overnight score.
Kalaria also frustrated the MP bowlers, hammering six boundaries and when he fell Gujarat had already gone past MPs first innings total.
In the second essay, Shubham Sharma (70 not out), the top-scorer of the first innings, once again stood tall for MP and hammered a decent Gujarat attack into submission.
After MP lost openers cheaply, Sharma and the experienced campaigner Rajat Patidar (53, 8x4; 2x6) steadied the ship by adding 92 runs for the third wicket.
But Gujarat stormed back removing Patidar and rival skipper Aditya Srivastava (31) in quick succession.
When stumps were drawn, Sharma, who hammered eight boundaries, had Yash Dubey (14 not out) for company, as MP extended their overall lead to 145 runs.
Manipur crush Arunachal Pradesh by an innings and 25 runs
Manipur pacers put up a fine exhibition of seam bowling to defeat Arunachal Pradesh by an innings and 25 runs in their Ranji Trophy Plate group fixture at Calcutta Cricket and Football Club ground.
Arunachal Pradesh, who conceded a 177-run first innings lead, were bundled out for 152 in 53.3 overs with Kangabam Singh becoming the wrecker-in-chief in their second essay grabbing 4 for 25.
Bishworjit Konthoujam and Rex Rajkumar accounted for two wickets each, while left-arm spinner L Kishan Singh, who made a dream debut bagging a hattrick in the first innings, claimed 1 for 28 as they wrapped the issue with a day to spare.
Singh was the hero of the first innings when he dismissed Kamsha Yangfo, Akhilesh Sahani and Suraj Tayam off successive deliveries as Manipur bundled out Arunachal Pradesh for 119 in 57 overs after they opted to bat.
In reply, Manipur were bowled out for 296 with opener Al Bashid Muhammed topscoring for 79 while skipper Narisingh Yadav made a crucial 45 batting at No 7.
Andhra slips to 100 for 4 in pursuit of 368 for win against Rajasthan
Identical scores of 79 by skipper Ashok Menaria and Mahipal Lomror enabled Rajasthan set Andhra a stiff target of 368 in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group E match.
Andhra lost four wickets including that of captain K S Bharat to be 100 for 4 at stumps on the third day.
Resuming at 97 for 2 on the third day, Rajasthan batters Lomror and Garhwal (38) could add only 18 runs before the latter fell to Manish. Menaria who came in at the fall of Rajesh Bishnoi (0) put on 41 runs with Lomror.
Menaria hit six fours and three sixes as he kept the scoreboard ticking and helped swell the Rajasthan lead. He was dismissed by Y Sandep to leave the team at 272 for 8.
No.11 batter Aniket Choudhary smashed four boundaries in his 18-ball 23 to add to the woes of the Andhra bowlers.
Maharashtra secure first-innings lead, shot out Assam for 248
Maharashtra put themselves in a dominant position after bundling out Assam for a paltry 248 in their first essay on the third day of their Elite Group G Ranji Trophy game here on Saturday.
The Ankit Bawne-led side were in the driver's seat and enforced the follow-on after which Assam ended the day at 82 for 3 in their second essay.
In pursuit of 415, Assam started on their overnight score of 81 for 2, but for the eastern team only talented Riyan Parag (88; 11x4;1x6) was the star performer as the other batters made a beeline to the dressing room.
Experienced left-arm spinner Satyajeet Bachhav (4/25), who hails from Nashik, ran riot as he grabbed four wickets, including that of Parag, whom he trapped in front of the wicket.
Karnataka secures first innings lead; J&K in command vs Pondicherry
Karnataka secured the first innings lead against Railways despite a ton by Arindam Ghosh (105) and Mohammad Saif's knock of 84 on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match.
Resuming at the overnight score of 213 for 3, Ghosh and Saif added 81 more runs and kept the Railways on course before leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal broke the 96-run fourth wicket partnership by dismissing the former.
Ghosh's batting was slow when compared to Friday but he hit two sixes on the trot to reach his ton. Gopal trapped Ghosh leg-before wicket to end a stand that was threatening to take the fight to the Karnataka team.
Left-handed batter Saif continued to bat well and ensured that there were no further losses till lunch as Railways moved to 303 for 4.
Railways' batting faltered and they appeared set to concede a huge lead before Yuvraj Singh hit 48. His exit at 419 to Ronit More (3/67) saw the team slide to 426 all out, handing a 55-run lead to Karnataka.
India Test batter Mayank Agarwal started confidently in the second innings and has hit five fours and a six in his unbeaten 39. Devdutt Padikkal (4) fell early but R Samarth (20 batting) ensured that there were no further hiccups as Karnataka ended the day at 63 for 1, an overall lead of 118 runs with a day to go.
In the other match of the day, Abdul Samad blitzed a 68-ball century (103, 78 balls, 19 fours, 2 sixes) to help Jammu & Kashmir take a 83-run lead.
Pondicherry faltered in the second innings and the team was tottering at 113 for 9 at stumps on the third day as veteran off-spinner Parvez Rasool picked up five wickets.
Pondicherry is ahead only by 30 runs with one wicket standing and a defeat looks imminent on the final day.
