Ranji round-up

Daniel Manohar and A Nand Kishore both notched up centuries as Karnataka bowlers toiled in vain on Day One of their Ranji Trophy league match against Hyderabad at Secunderabad.

South Zone kicked off its Ranji campaign with this match, a fitting inauguration. Both Hyderabad openers looked in little trouble, prepared to take their time and ensure that a large first-innings total was not frittered away. Manohar, the slower of the two, made exactly 100 off 295 balls, striking 11 fours in his knock.

Nand Kishore, the more adventurous of the duo, hit 23 fours in his knock of 136 off 266 balls. Karnataka did not help their cause too much by conceding as many as 39 extras in the day, with 21 no-balls being bowled.

At stumps, Hyderabad were 275 for no loss, with both Manohar and Nand Kishore looking hungry for more runs on Day Two.

Being set a total of 312 for victory, Services played for safety rather than victory, reaching a total of 244/6 by the close of play on Day Four of their Ranji Trophy league match against Haryana at Faridabad.

Haryana's overnight unbeaten batsmen added valuable runs with the remaining tailenders, and their innings closed at 220 all out. Services started shakily, losing two wickets for the addition of 32 runs. PMS Reddy and Yashpal Singh, however, stabilised the innings.

Reddy departed with the score on 128, having made 53. His partner was dismissed less than 30 runs later, caught by Shafiq Khan off Amit Mishra for 64. CD Thomson made a fine unbeaten 44 lower down the order, ensuring, along with skipper Sanjay Verma, that Services did not lose the match.

Haryana, by virtue of their first-innings total, pick up five points from this match, while Services get three.

Punjab, looking to bowl out Jammy and Kashmir for less than 293, were unsuccessful in their bid on Day Four of their Ranji Trophy league match at Jammu.

The home side, losing two wickets for 37 runs, shut shop and refused to be tempted into trying for the target. Kavaljit Singh, playing at one-down, made a painstaking 89 off 263 balls, giving clear indication of the plans of his team.

He was ably supported by Dhruv Mahajan (46), but Punjab must have sniffed some chance of victory when Kavaljit Singh, the fifth wicket to fall, departed with the score on 187. The lower middle-order, however, kept out the bowling long enough to take the home side to 211/6 at stumps.

Jammu and Kashmir pick up five points by virtue of their first-innings lead, while Punjab pick up three.

Delhi, by virtue of a first-innings lead, gained five points from their drawn Ranji Trophy league match against Himachal Pradesh at Bilaspur.

Himachal Pradesh, staring the day at a strong 327/4, proceeded to add 94 runs before declaring at 421/7. Rajiv Nayyar, who remained unbeaten on 84, was a figure of patience, grinding the Delhi attack for almost 6 hours and 225 balls, hitting only four fours in his knock.

Set a nigh-impossible total of 361 for victory, Delhi opted for batting practice. Gautam Gambhir made 42 and Akash Chopra an unbeaten 86 off 168 balls. Delhi reached 219/3 at stumps, with none of the Himachal Pradesh bowlers able to dent the batting line-up further.