RAJKOT: For the second day running, Delhi’s batters — including
Rishabh Pant — had no answer to left-arm spinner
Ravindra Jadeja. The 36-year-old took 7/38 in the second innings to add to his 5/66 in the first to skittle out the visitors for a paltry 94 in their second innings.
Saurashtra, who had taken a lead of 83 runs in the first innings, scored the 12 needed for a bonus point win in 3.1 overs in their
Ranji Trophy Group D clash at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Friday.
The triumph took the hosts to 18 points and third position in the group. A victory against Assam in their last league clash beginning here next Thursday will brighten their chances of making it to the quarterfinal.
As for Delhi, they will next play Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Jadeja’s wickets on Friday again included that of Rishabh Pant, who fell for 17 in the second innings after having scored one run in the first. So poor were Delhi’s batters that Pant was the second-highest run-scorer for the team.
Badoni and Pant added 42 runs for the fifth wicket with the former employing sweep and reverse sweep to negate the spinners. Badoni (44 off 55b; 4x5) was the last man out while attempting to score quick runs, leaving Saurashtra needing just 12 runs to win, which they completed with ease.
Saurashtra, who resumed their first innings at 163/5 in 38.5 overs, added 43 runs in the morning before Prerak Mankad (19) was caught by Rishabh Pant off Ayush Badoni’s bowling.
Mankad had a reprieve on two when he was dismissed off a no-ball.
Smaran’s double ton puts Karnataka in driver’s seat Bengaluru: There is plenty about R Smaran that would endear to selectors and connoisseurs of the game.
On Friday, Smaran struck a stroke-filled 203 (277b; 25x4; 3x6) to steer Karnataka to a commanding 475 in 122.1 overs against Punjab, reports Manuja Veerappa.
It gave Karnataka a 420-run lead on the second day. Punjab dug themselves into a deeper hole in their second innings and were 24/2 in 13 overs at stumps, trailing by 396 runs.