Ricky and Gupta put Punjab on top
A summary of the second day in the latest round of the Ranji Trophy
Cricinfo staff
10-Dec-2005
Punjab rode on centuries from Ravneet Ricky and Gaurav Gupta to reach 392 for 4, gaining a 192-run lead, to put Punjab on top by the end of the second day's play against Hyderabad at Mohali. Both came together with Punjab rattled at 31 for 3, but their 213-run association ensured that Punjab assume complete control. Once Gupta fell at the score on 244, Ricky - who smashed 23 fours in his knock - put on an unbroken 148-run stand with Muneesh Sharma to further stretch the lead.
Half-centuries from Kiran Powar and Rakesh Solanki, buttressed with handy contributions from the rest of the batsmen, propelled Baroda to 306 for 9 at the end of the second day, gaining a crucial 46-run lead. Haryana fought hard through a four-wicket haul from Joginder Sharma but could not prevent Baroda - powered by three fifty partnerships - from taking the first-innings lead.
Amol Muzumdar's superb century and his123-run partnership with Nishit Shetty for the fourth wicket steered Mumbai to 83-run first-innings lead before Bengal reached 37 for no loss to reduce the deficit at Wankhade Stadium. Mumbai, having resumed at 50 for 2, had reached 71 for 3 for the loss of Vinit Indulkar before Muzumdar and Shetty came together. Shetty, who has often rescued Mumbai from precarious situations, carted five fours and two sixes to seize the initiative before Muzumdar consolidated their position with his 19th first-class century. At a certain stage Mumbai were cruising along at 193 for 3, but Ashok Dinda, the medium pacer, grabbed five of the eight wickets that fell today and brought Bengal right back into the contest.
Rain continued to play spoilsport at Chennai and only 16.3 overs were possible on the second day's play. The Tamil Nadu openers, S Vidyut and Hemant Kumar, motored along at over three-and-a-half runs an over but it is highly unlikely that their efforts will alter the course of the game.
Powered by a five wicket haul from Kulamani Parida, the offspinner, Railways shot out Gujarat for a paltry 79, gaining a vital 109-run lead, before reaching 35 for 1 at stumps to gain complete command of the game in Delhi. Parida ripped into the middle order after Sanjay Bangar and Madan Yadav, the left-arm spinner, had removed the top four, to put Railways, the defending champions, on course for their first victory of the season.
An unbeaten 74 by Mayank Tehlan, the 19-year old batsman who is Virender Sehwag's cousin, steered Delhi to a strong position by the end of the second days' play. Earlier, Kunal Lal, the left-arm medium pacer, removed Sairaj Bahutule and Kaushik Aphale, the overnight batsmen, and along with M Deewan, who also finished with a four-wicket haul, bowled Maharashtra out for a modest 208.
A watchful half-century from Sarabjit Singh, the Services wicketkeeper batsmen, stretched their total but Uttar Pradesh rode on Suresh Raina's unbeaten fifty kept Uttar Pradesh in the game at the end of the second day at Lucknow. Sarabjit guided the tail - with plucky contributions from AK Mohanty (30) and Amrinder Singh (33) - to lift Services, overnight on 207 for 5, to 321 in their first innings. But Piyush Chawla, the legspinner, was rewarded for his persistence and he ended with a five-wicket haul in a marathon effort that contained 42 overs.
Madan YadavMayank TehlanRakesh SolankiNishit ShettySarabjit SinghSuresh RainaRavneet RickyKiran PowarKulamani ParidaAmol MuzumdarPiyush ChawlaPunjabHaryanaBarodaKarnatakaUttar PradeshBengalRailwaysTamil NaduServicesHyderabad (India)MaharashtraIndiaMumbai (Bombay)GujaratDelhiRanji TrophyIndia Domestic Season