Mumbai, Dec 22: Veteran batsman Wasim Jaffer became the highest run-scorer in the Ranji Trophy with 8269 runs to his name to help Mumbai to a strong position against Punjab on Day 2 of the Elite – Group A encounter between the two sides. The hosts finished the day on 308 for five, with a lead of 82 runs, with Ankeet Chavan (17*) and Ramesh Powar (30*) still at the wicket.
Earlier, Mumbai added just 55 runs to their overnight score off 22 in 31 overs in the first session. After a 109-ball stay at the crease, Waghela edged Harmeet Singh to Karan Goel in the slips to depart for 28. Waghela’s departure brought Jaffer to the wicket who induced some life into the Mumbai innings with a stroke-filled 82 off just 122 deliveries.
Jaffer was complemented by young Mumbai sensation Suryakumar Yadav whose 64 runs came off just 56 deliveries. Consequently, the second session was far more productive for Mumbai, the hosts scoring 118 runs in 28 overs for the loss of two wickets.
Jaffer was eventually stumped by Uday Kaul off Rahul Sharma’s bowling while Yadav was adjudged lbw off Harmeet Singh. Ankeet Chavan and Ramesh Powar then continued to build on Mumbai’s lead after the hosts had surpassed Punjab’s first innings score of 226 runs in the last session of the day.
Tamil Nadu v MPCA: Dinesh Karthik slammed a sensational 156 (off 256 deliveries) to help Tamil Nadu take hold of their Ranji Trophy tie against Madhya Pradesh. Resuming from an overnight score of 60 not out, Karthik’s innings helped TN put together a mammoth first-innings score of 486.
Madhya Pradesh wilted in the face of the steep first-innings score of their opponents. L Balaji, Jagannatha Kaushik and Rahil Shah took a wicket each for the hosts as the visitors slipped to 50 for three by the end of day’s play.
Karnataka v UPCA: Former India player Mohammad Kaif hit an unbeaten 101 (off 223 deliveries) to leave the Karnataka vs Uttar Pradesh Ranji tie evenly poised. After Stuart Binny’s middle-order heroics (94 off 118) helped the hosts to a first-innings score of 314, UP were in disarray at 172 for six. However, Kaif’s battling innings, along with an unbeaten half-century from Bhuvneshwar Kumar (52*), helped UP fight their way back into the game.
Earlier, Kumar had helped UP’s cause by taking the last three Karnataka wickets (Binny included), which helped the pacer finish with impressive figures of five for 84 from 31 overs.
Railways v Saurashtra: Saurashtra are on the cusp of clinching victory against Railways in their Elite- Group A Ranji Trophy encounter. After Ravindra Jadeja’s sensational six-wicket haul on Day 1 reduced Railways to 71 for eight, the hosts were bundled out for 81 this morning. Saurashtra were then dismissed for 152 in their second innings with Cheteshwar Pujara (32) and Jadeja (45) top-scoring for the visitors. However, Railways, chasing a fourth-innings target of 247, soon found themselves pushed in a corner with offspinner Kamlesh Makvana grabbing five for 30 as the hosts were reduced to 97 for six in 34 overs.
Baroda v Bengal: After Ashok Dinda’s five-wicket haul put Bengal on top against Baroda on Day 1 of their Elite – Group B Ranji Trophy encounter, half centuries from Sourav Ganguly (60) and Anustup Majumdar (71*) put Bengal in a dominant position on Day 2. The visitors finished the day at 264 for four even as Sourav Ganguly retired hurt.
Rajasthan v Orissa: Visitors Orissa found themselves facing an uphill task against Ranji Trophy champions Rajasthan at the end of Day 2 of their Elite – Group A encounter. After Robin Bist’s unbeaten 127 powered Rajasthan to a first-innings score of 423, Orissa were reduced to 76 for six in 23 overs thanks to an all-round performance by Rajasthan’s bowlers.
Remaining scorecards:
