Bengal in complete command
Dehradun, Jan 4: Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary’s decision to hand over the new ball to left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed turned out to be a masterstroke as Uttarakhand were staring down the barrel at 104 for 6 on second day of the Ranji Trophy Group A match here on Wednesday. Shahbaz (2/34 in 12 overs) removed the two rival openers Avneesh Sudha (4) and skipper Jiwanjot Singh (4) within first six overs to seize the control. With the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy Stadium track offering some assistance, other left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik (2/17 in 10 overs) also got into the act. The spin twins got enough support from pacer Akash Deep (2/21 in 10 overs), who also provided timely breakthroughs. In fact, Shahbaz enjoyed a satisfying day as an all-rounder, contributing a valuable 40 with the willow which took Bengal’s first innings score to a healthy 387. This was after first day’s hero Abhimanyu Easwaran added a few more runs before being dismissed for 165. It was Uttarakhand left-arm spinner Mayank Mishra (6/95 in 34 overs), whose spell actually gave Tiwary the belief that his spinners were in a better position to exploit the turn on offer with odd balls gripping the surface. Uttarakhand need 238 to avoid follow-on and at this point would need another 134 runs to overtake the total with only four wickets remaining. (PTI)
Saurashtra in control on Day 2
Rajkot, Jan 4: Saurashtra, riding on fine centuries from Arpit Vasavada (127 not out) and Harvik Desai (107), posted a mammoth 503 for six as the hosts took control of the Ranji Trophy Group B match against a spineless Delhi bowling attack here on Wednesday. At stumps on day two, Saurashtra were 370 runs ahead of Delhi’s first-innings total of 133 and would be aiming for an innings win with a bonus point in the fourth round of Ranji matches. A depleted Delhi bowling attack was at the mercy of the Saurashtra batters as the visitors toiled all day long without much success after getting rid of overnight batter Desai, who could add just three runs to his day one score of 104 before being run out by substitute fielder Himmat Singh. (PTI)
Avesh takes five against Vidarbha
Indore, Jan 4: India pacer Avesh Khan broke the back of Vidarbha’s top-order with a five-wicket haul as Madhya Pradesh took control of their Group D Ranji Trophy match here on Wednesday. A nippy bowler, with an ability to move the ball both ways, Avesh finished the second day’s play with excellent figures of 5/32 in 19 overs to leave Vidarbha at 145 for seven, still 164 runs adrift of MP’s first-innings total of 309 all out. Madhya Pradesh’s innings came to a close after they added 75 runs to their overnight total of 234 for six. Avesh also chipped in with the bat by scoring a 31-ball 28. (PTI)