Left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Parth Vats was the star performer once again, leading Haryana to a commanding nine-wicket victory over Tripura in their Group C Ranji Trophy match on October 26.
Parth Vats' eight-wicket haul in Haryana's second win on the trot
The 21-year-old secured his second consecutive Player-of-the-Match award, this time for his bowling, having taken eight wickets in the game. His efforts were instrumental in bowling Tripura out for a mere 47 in their second innings, leaving Haryana with an effortless target of just 16 runs, which they chased down in 4.3 overs, giving them a total of 12 points from two matches.
Vats, who had taken 3/14 in the first innings, completed his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket in the second innings, finishing with figures of 5/14. Tripura's second innings lasted only 19.1 overs, with just two batters managing to reach double digits.
Earlier in the match, Tripura's left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh delivered a career-best 7/66 in Haryana's first innings. However, his strong effort couldn't prevent Haryana from taking a slender 32-run first-innings lead after Tripura had been bowled out for 126.Vats' current run of form began with a stunning debut against Railways, where he showcased his batting prowess with scores of 52 and an unbeaten 110, earning him the Player of the Match award in their 96-run victory in Surat.
Arjun Sharma powers Services to 8-wicket win over Assam
In other match, Services completed a dominant eight-wicket victory over Assam in Tinsukia, largely thanks to the phenomenal bowling performance of left-arm spinner Arjun Sharma. Sharma's incredible nine-wicket haul across the match earned him the Player of the Match award. Assam, resuming their second innings at a precarious 56/5, lasted less than nine overs on Sunday, as Services’ relentless bowlers wrapped up the innings for just 75 runs. The resulting target of 71 was comfortably chased down by Services in 13.5 overs with eight wickets still intact, giving the team 13 points from two matches.
Arjun Sharma, who had already claimed a hat-trick in the first innings on a historic opening day—where Services' Mohit Jangra also achieved the feat, marking the first time two bowlers have taken hat-tricks in the same Ranji Trophy match—was once again incisive. Sharma returned figures of 4/20 from 9.3 overs, slicing through the tail. Only three Assam batters, including overnight batter Sumit Ghadigaonkar, managed to reach double digits.
Amit Shukla provided excellent support with a superb 3/6 from six overs, which triggered Assam’s second-innings collapse. Shukla accounted for key wickets, including overnight batter Sibsankar Roy, who failed to add any runs to his overnight score, while keeper-batter Ghadigaonkar top-scored with 25. Sharma and Shukla bowled in tandem to wrap up the innings in just 29.3 overs. The foundation for this comprehensive victory was truly laid on the opening day when Services’ bowlers achieved the unprecedented feat of recording two hat-tricks. Earlier in the match, Assam had managed a slender first-innings lead of just two runs after Services were bowled out for 108, with Riyan Parag (5/25) and Rahul Singh (4/44) doing the damage. In the chase, Services lost two wickets to Parag (2/31), but a brisk 20 not out off eight balls from Ravi Chauhan, alongside Mohit Ahlawat's 16 not out, easily guided to victory.