Team India's new fast-bowling sensation Prasidh Krishna gave a power-packed performance as he picked up six wickets for 35 runs to bundle out Jammu and Kashmir for 93 on Day 2 of Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match. At the end of day’s play, the total lead for Karnataka was 337 runs. Recently, Krishna, who played in India's ODI team, shook the batting order of Jammu and Kashmir, which reduced the rival team to just 29.5 overs.
Karun Nair's 175-run knock
Earlier, Karnataka started Day 2 at 268 runs for eight wickets in the morning. Karun Nair added 23 runs to his overnight score of 152 and played a 175 run-knock as Karnataka's first innings was reduced to 302 runs. In reply, J&K got off to a good start, thanks to Kamran Iqbal (35) and Jatin Wadhawan (25) but Krishna's brilliant spell floored their batters. He took six of the first seven wickets of the opponent team. At the end of day’s play, Karnataka had scored 128 runs for two wickets in the second innings.
Delhi's ongoing struggle
Even after young batsman Jonty Sidhu's unbeaten knock of 78 runs, Delhi's team is in danger of falling behind in the first innings of Group B match against Jharkhand. In response to Jharkhand's score of 251 in the first innings, Delhi's team struggled at 223 for eight wickets till the end of the second day's play in Guwahati on February 25 (Friday). Delhi are still 28 runs behind in the first innings. Jonty, who scored a half-century against Tamil Nadu, has so far scored 78 runs in 176 balls. During his 78-run knock, he has hit six fours and two sixes. He put on a 77-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Vikar Mishra (21 runs in 117 balls) to get Delhi out of danger. The eight-wicket partnership was broken by experienced left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem as Vikas was trapped in front of the stumps, after which the umpires declared the end of the day's play.
Mumbai in trouble
Mumbai captain Prithvi Shaw could not take advantage of a good start once again. Shaw missed his half-century as he got out after scoring 44 runs off 47 balls with six fours and a six, as Mumbai posted 57 runs for the loss of one wicket in the second innings before stumps. Mumbai, who have bagged three points against Saurashtra, will have to score a big score on the third day to get full points in this match. Against Mumbai, who scored 163 runs in the first innings, Goa made 327 runs in the first innings with a 96-run stand for the eighth wicket between Eknath Kerkar (71) and fast bowler Lakshya Garg (59). Mumbai's left-arm spinner Shams Mulani took six wickets for 107 runs to minimise Goa’s lead.
Shubham and Raghuvanshi hit centuries
Shubham Sharma's breezy 111 and Akshat Raghuvanshi's 100-run knock put Madhya Pradesh in a strong position against Meghalaya on the second day of the Elite Group A match. After bundling out Meghalaya for just 61 runs, Madhya Pradesh declared the first innings on a mammoth score of 499 for six wickets, with hundreds from in-form Shubham and Raghuvanshi. Shubham hit 15 fours during his innings of 169 balls whereas Raghuvanshi scored 12 fours and a six in his innings. After the dismissal of Raghuvanshi, Madhya Pradesh declared the innings. Meghalaya had scored 16 runs without losing a wicket in the second innings before the end of day’s play.
Andhra Pradesh in strong position
Andhra Pradesh scored 389 runs in the first innings against Services on the second day of the Elite Group E match, thanks to former India Under-19 captain Ricky Bhui's 149 and Karan Shinde's 96. Andhra started playing at 277 for three in the morning. Thanks to Bhui and Shinde, the team reached the score of 337 runs. Shinde missed the century by just four runs and became the victim of off-spinner Pulkit Narang. The two batters put on a partnership of 218 runs for the fourth wicket. The rest of the batters could not make any useful contribution. Andhra lost six wickets in a space of 39 runs as they managed to post 389 despite a solid stand. Narang took six wickets for 56 runs. Services scored 75 runs for two wickets before the end of day’s play. However, they lost the wickets of Anshul Gupta (14) and Rahul Singh (09) early.
Himanshu Rana hits century
On the back of captain Himanshu Rana's unbeaten century and an unbroken 139-run partnership for the third wicket with Yashu Sharma (69 not out), Haryana, in reply to Punjab's 444, won the Group F match for four hours till the end of the second day's play. Haryana made 204 runs for three wickets before the end of day’s play. Rana, who scored his maiden century against Tripura in the team's last match, hit 16 fours in his unbeaten 113 off 177 balls. However, Haryana are still 240 runs behind Punjab with two days left in the game.
Srikant Mundhe's first double ton
Veteran all-rounder Srikant Mundhe’s maiden double century helped Arunachal Pradesh post 413 for five wickets in the first innings at stumps on the second day of Ranji Trophy plate group match against Nagaland. Nagaland were reduced to 216 runs in the first innings. As a result, Arunachal have taken a first innings lead of 197 runs. Mundhe scored his career-best 207 runs in 302 balls while Chetan Bisht remained not out for 107.
