Kerala and Assam thwarted at the tape
A round-up of the fourth day's play in the fourth round of Ranji Trophy Plate Group matches
Cricinfo staff
19-Dec-2006
Goa hung on by the skin of their teeth, thwarting Kerala in a thrilling stalemate at Margao. Chasing an unlikely 406 for victory, Goa were almost buried at 278 for 9 but the last-wicket pair of Shailesh Miskin and Anil Naik hung on for 4.4 overs to clinch a draw. The base was set earlier, with all the top-order batsmen contributing plucky knocks. Swapnil Asnodkar, the captain, led the way with a 50 as Goa prevented Kerala from taking a full four points from the contest.
Assam 181 and 213 for 7 (Arunkumar 63, Bordoloi 52*) drew with Madhya Pradesh 143 and 135 for 6 (Konwar 4-41)
Scorecard
Scorecard
Assam couldn't wrap up Madhya Pradesh's final four wickets on the final day at Dibrugarh. Declaring 251 ahead, thanks to half-centuries from J Arunkumar and Nishanta Bordoloi, Assam had a minimum of 52 overs to bowl out their opponents. MP's openers, though, had other ideas - rattling 52 for the opening stand in 14.5 overs - but loss of three quick wickets forced them to shut shop. Offspinner Anand Konwar led Assam's charge with four wickets but MP hung on gamely.
Himachal Pradesh trumped J&K by an imposing innings and 75-run margin on the final at Jammu. Needing just five more wickets to wrap up the innings, J&K couldn't avoid an innings defeat, falling to 222 all out in their second dig. Hardeep Singh completed his second fifty of the game J&K's tailenders didn't last long. Offspinner Sarandeep Singh added three wickets to his six in the first innings, polishing off the tail in quick time, as Himachal joined Orissa at the top of the Group A table.
Satish Upadhyay's 231-ball 60, aided by a handy 49 from Yashpal Singh, helped Services bat out a draw on the final day at Jamshedpur. Having conceded a 145-run lead, Services were in danger of losing their way but a solid batting effort allowed them to escape unscathed. Resuming at 101 for 3, they ground out stodgy knocks, batting out time in a drab draw.
Nishanta BordoloiJagadeesh ArunkumarSwapnil AsnodkarSatish UpadhyaySarandeep SinghYashpal SinghSK MiskinAssamOdishaVidarbhaIndiaTripuraGoa Chief Minister's XIRailwaysMadhya PradeshKerala (and Travancore-Cochin)Himachal PradeshBiharJammu & KashmirServicesIndia Domestic SeasonRanji Trophy Plate LeagueIndia Domestic Season