Mayank Agarwal hits triple ton ,UP fight versus Delhi after Nath century
RANJI TROPHY Karnataka batsman helps team near win over Maharashtra on the final day
Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal, known for his aggressive batting style, underlined his ability to play the long innings too with a maiden Ranji Trophy triple ton on Friday.
The knock against Maharashtra in Pune made him the third current Karnataka player to score a Ranji triple century after Rahul KL and Karun Nair.
At the Maharashtra Cricket Association ground at Gahunje, the story was the same on the third day as Karnataka batsmen maintained the upper hand and declared their innings after putting a mammoth total of 628/5. In reply, the Maharashtra batting line-up again surrendered. At the end of the day, the hosts were trailing by 248 runs. Rahul Tripathi, who rescued Maharashtra in the first innings, was on 33 runs. Ruturaj Gaikwad is on 61.
Earlier, Mayank added 85 runs to his overnight score of 219 to achieve the feat, while Karun Nair, who resumed on 56, added another century to his tally to finish on 116. Mayank’s 304 was dotted with 28 boundaries and four sixes. Immediately after he reached the landmark, Karnataka declared the innings.
UP MAKE DELHI SWEAT
NEWDELHI: Akshdeep Nath struck his second first-class hundred to put Uttar Pradesh in a strong position after they took a slender first innings lead against Delhi on day three of the Ranji Trophy Group A match at Palam ground.
In response to UP’s 291, Delhi could only get to 269 after resuming the day at 228/6. Overnight batsman Dhruv Shorey remained unbeaten on 98. In the second innings, Delhi had UP on the mat at 21/4 before Nath and Rinku Singh forged a stand of 108 runs to steer the team to 224/7 at stumps on day three.
UP lost their openers cheaply when Shivam Chaudhary and Almas Shaukat fell without scoring. Mohammad Saif too departed quickly after Ishant Sharma had him caught in the slip cordon. Skipper Suresh Raina was out cheaply again, making it 21/4. But UP fought back through Nath and Rinku Singh before the century maker shared an 86-run stand with Upendra Yadav.
MUMBAI IN COMMAND
BHUBANESHWAR: Siddesh Lad’s 117 and the bowlers’ fine performance put Mumbai in the box seat against Odisha at the end of the day three in their Ranji Trophy Group “C” match with the hosts struggling at 93/4 in pursuit of 413.
Resuming at the overnight 58/ 3, Mumbai lost quick wickets including that of captain Aditya Tare. However, Lad and Abhishek Nayar added 57 runs to arrest the slide. Lad put on another 76 runs with Akash Parkar.
Odisha lost opener Sandeep Pattanaik at 13 but Natraj Behera and captain Govind Poddar came to the rescue. Akash Parkar struck twice late in the day to leave Odisha at 93/4 and facing a huge task to save the game.
HIMACHAL FIGHT BACK
KOLKATA: Himachal Pradesh staged a fightback against Bengal following-on after pace bowler Ashok Dinda grabbed a five-for in their Ranji Trophy Group D match.
In reply to Bengal’s 419, Himachal were bundled out for 206 in their first innings with Dinda grabbing 5/61, and complemented by Shami (3/94). The hosts enforced the follow-on in the first session. Bengal, however, could not capitalise on their 213- run first innings lead as Himachal ended the penultimate day at 207/2 when bad light stopped play.
Himachal openers Prashant Chopra and Priyanshu Khanduri put on a 125-run stand before Mukesh Kumar finally gave the breakthrough.
Resuming the day 256 runs behind, Himachal only managed to add 43 runs to their total as their lower order batsmen caved in against Dinda, who scalped the wickets of Pankaj Jaiswal and Gurvinder Singh to register his 24th first-class five-wicket haul. Shami’s sharp spell late on Thursday had given Bengal the upper hand.