Report

All-round Himachal rout Services

A round-up of the Ranji Trophy Group C matches on December 10, 2014

Himachal Pradesh 479 (Gangta 99, Bains 67, Malik 59) beat Services 226 (Punia 64, Malik 3-33) and 224 (Paliwal 43, Dhawan 4-70) by an innings and 29 runs
Scorecard
Rishi Dhawan's four-wicket haul helped Himachal Pradesh seal an innings and 29-run win against Services in Delhi. Services, who began the day at a shaky 91 for 3, needed to score at least 253 to make Himachal bat again, but while all their top and middle-order batsmen made starts, none of them were able to raise a much-needed fifty, and lost wickets at regular intervals. Rajat Paliwal was their top scorer with 43, while Yashpal Singh and Saurabh Kumar chipped in with thirties. For Himachal, Dhawan collected 4 for 70, while Bipul Sharma took 3 for 42, as Services were bowled out for 224 in 97.2 overs.
Andhra 369 (Prasanth 124, Bharat 75, Ravi Kiran 3-103) and 215 for 2 (Bharat 130*) drew with Hyderabad 522 (Milind 97*, Ravi Teja 96, Reddy 95, Shivkumar 4-84)
Scorecard
Wicketkeeper-batsman Srikar Bharat's maiden first-class hundred helped Andhra fight their way to a draw against Hyderabad. Andhra began the fourth day at 24 for 0 after, after they were asked to follow on on the third evening. They lost opener Prasanth Kumar early for 32 but Andhra captain Mohammad Kaif and Bharat then shared a 149-run, second-wicket stand to help Andhra reach 215 for 2. Bharat's unbeaten 130 followed his first-innings score of 75.
Goa 367 (Misal 76, Desai 75, Bandekar 60) and 179 for 1 (Kamat 103*, Asnodkar 69) drew against Kerala (Verma 129, Surendran 123, Bandekar 3-67)
Scorecard
Nikhilesh Surendran and Sagun Kamat both struck hundreds on the final day, as Goa and Kerala played out a draw in Wayanad, though Kerala ended as the happier of the two teams by collecting crucial first-innings points. In reply to Goa's 367, Kerala, who began the day at 299 for 6, were powered by Surendran's 123, which included 16 fours and two sixes, taking them to 393. Saurabh Bandekar was the pick of Goa's bowlers, taking 3 for 67. With an outright win for either team all but ruled out, Goa managed to post 179 for 1 before stumps were called. Kamat scored an unbeaten 103, with 12 fours and two sixes, and he received ample support from Swapnil Asnodkar, who scored 69 during a 176-run stand.