The possibility of an innings victory over Jammu and Kashmir
was converted into a reality by Haryana’s bowlers today
Staff Reporter03-Nov-2001*Haryana defeat J&K by an innings and 118 runsThe possibility of an innings victory over Jammu and Kashmir
was converted into a reality by Haryana’s bowlers today.
After a dismal display last year Haryana came to life with a
rejuvenating outright trumph over Jammu and Kashmir in the
opening encounter of the North Zone Ranji Trophy league at the
Maharaja Aggarsain Stadium today. In the process they also
avenged their defeat suffered at the hands of same opponents
last year at Jammu. On the third and penultimate day of the
match , Haryana registered a convincing victory over their
rivals with an innings margin.After facing the humiliation of follow-on, Jammu and Kashmir
needed another 282 runs to make Haryana bat again with nine
wickets intact at draw of stumps yesterday. Today, Haryana
bowlers spent a frustating first session as Jammu and
Kashmir’s overnight-unbeaten pair of batsmen Raju Sharma (57
in 227 minutes) and Kanwaljit Singh offered resistance and
registered hundred run partnership for the second wicket in
144 minutes off 223 balls.The partnership was terminated when leg-spinner Amit Mishra
provided the much needed breakthrough, but not before the pair
had added 140 runs. Kanwal scored 71 runs in 206 minutes off
174 balls. He hit twelve fours. His dismissal cleared the
decks for Haryana’s outright victory. Jammu and Kashmir lost
the remaining wickets in quick succession. It was young left
arm spinner S Vidyut who was playing his first match for
Haryana after migrating from Tamil Nadu who did the damage.Vidyut struck in a big way and bagged 6 wickets after
conceding only 24 runs in 21 overs. The Jammu and Kashmir
innings folded at 179 to give Haryana a victory by innings.
Haryana managed to garner as many as 8 points whereas Jammu
and Kashmir got no points from the match.*Services Struggling at 297 for 9A stubborn 137 minute stay at the wicket by the eighth wicket
pair helped Services reach 297 for the loss of nine wickets
but the visitors were still 21 short of saving the follow-on
at the end of third day’s play against Delhi in the North Zone
Ranji Trophy tie here today.Coming together in the 51st over of the day with Services
struggling at 210 for 7 after Delhi left-arm spinner Rahul
Sanghvi ran through the middle order claiming four quick
wickets, a determined CD Thompson and JP Pandey thwarted the
rival attack for 34 overs frustrating Delhi’s attempts to wrap
up the tail and enforce a follow-on today itself.Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 62 for two,
services continued their save-the-match tactics with overnight
batsmen cautiously defending for 22 overs before Delhi struck
removing Yahspal Singh (69), who while trying to sweep, edged
to keeper Pradeep Chawla off Rahul Sanghvi.Sanghvi struck again four overs later removing PMS Reddy (34,
3×4), effecting a brilliant caught-and-bowled.Just when Services seemed to fold up meekly, skipper Sanjay
Verma played a blistering innings, which included ten
boundaries. when the team seemed to claw their way back into
the game, Sanghvi came back with more venom and sent Verma
back.Verma (53) skied a Sanghvi full toss towards the mid-wicket
and Sarandeep Singh committed no mistake.Four overs later, off-spinner Sarandeep produced a beauty and
Chawla latched on to a top edge flying out of new man
Sarabjeet Singh’s bat.The Sanghvi-Chawla duo continued working wonders for Delhi and
this time Sayed Javed perished to their designs for a duck
giving Chawla his fourth catch of the match.Delhi then prepared for the kill, bringing on seamers Bandhari
and Arun Singh to finish off the tail. But the Thompson-
Pandey partnership proved too stubborn.With his arsenal exhausted, Manhas brought himself on and
effected a turn-around six overs before close of play
dismissing Pandey, who seemed to have lost concentration and
ended up snicking to Akash Chopra at first slip.He also worked a miracle with the last ball of the day
dismissing Arun Sharma who hit a rash shot towards fine leg
where RS Gupta gleefully grabbed it.Delhi would have loved to garner full eight points with an
outright victory after dominating with a huge first innings
score. For that to happen, they will have to grab 11 service
wickets on the last day tomorrow.On a dead Palam pitch, it is indeed an uphill task.*Himachal on verge of an innings defeatExcellent bowling performance from Punjab forced Himachal
Pardesh to follow-on and they are again five down for 216 runs
in 2nd innings in the North Zone Ranji Trophy league cricket
match being played at PCA Stadium, Mohali.Himachal Pradesh resumed their overnight innings from 147 for
5 with not out batsman Sangram Singh and Sandeep Sharma. Both
played with great courage and showed some resistance against a
disciplined attack. Sangram Singh completed his half century
in 81 balls with the help of 8 fours. Trying to pull a short
pitched rising delivery on leg stump from Amit Uniyal, he
snicked the ball for keeper Dharmani, who took the catch and
Uniyal gave a vital breakthrough to his team. The duo added
49 runs for the sixth wicket partnership.After the departure of Sangram Singh tailenders could not stay
longer and for the addition of only 17 runs they lost another
four wickets. Debutant Amit Uniyal took three wickets for 33
runs while Vineet Sharma and Babloo Kumar also accounted for
three wickets each after giving away 83 and 12 runs
respectively.Forced to follow-on, Himachal started their 2nd innings on a
sound note as Nischal Gaur (51) and Raza Ali (14) added 46
runs for the first wicket. Raza Ali was brilliantly caught at
third slip by Dinesh Mongia who took a single handed high
catch to his left off the bowling of Vineet Sharma. Nayyar (5)
joined Gaur but with the addition of 8 runs to the total he
was trapped in front of wicket by Sandeep Sawal.Sangram Singh and Nischal Gaur played cautiously and kept the
scoreboard moving. Gaur completed his half century in 100
balls with the help of 5 hits to the fence. Amit Uniyal gave
another jolt to Himachal team as he clean bowled Sangram Singh
(13) with a yorker. The scoreboard was showing 91 runs for
three wickets. With the addition of just two runs to the total
Nischal Gaur lost his patience and was trapped in front of
wicket by left arm spinner Babloo Kumar.Here comes the brightest part of the innings when Sandeep
Sharma joined skipper Virender Sharma. Both played
aggressively and added 50 runs in just 62 balls. Virender was
most instrumental in scoring runs at a quick pace. Virender
completed his fifty with a cheeky single to point off Sandeep
Sawal. He took 75 balls to complete his half-century which
was studded with 7 boundaries and a huge six. The duo
completed the 100-run partnership in 144 balls for the fifth
wicket, which is a record for the fifth wicket against any
team in this version of game.Sandeep Sharma who was shaping well for a big score played
early to a slower delivery from Anit Uniyal and gave a simple
catch to Dinesh Mongia at mid-off. Sandeep scored 44 runs in
76 balls with 7 hits to fence. The duo added valuable 117
runs for their team and give them some stability and respect.At the draw of stumps on day three Virender Sharma was
batting on 61 while Paras Dogra had 5 to his name.
Himachal still requires 113 runs to avoid innings
defeat with five wickets in hand. Amit Uniyal
captured two wickets at the cost of 51 runs, while
Babloo Kumar, Sandeep Sawal and Vineet Sharma snared a
wicket each.*Madhya Pradesh bowl Vidarbha out on Day OneThe Vidarbha C.A. ground in Nagpur, the venue for the Ranji Trophy tie
between the home side and Madhya Pradesh, saw Vidarbha bowled out for
295 and the visitors make 9 for no loss by the close of play.Vidarbha, winning the toss, opted to bat; partnerships, however, were
hard to come by, as all the batsmen made a start but could not convert
it into significant knocks. The openers were dismissed with 45 on the
board, and wickets fell at regular intervals after that.The only sizeable contribution came from Samir Khare, who made 70 and
was the last man to fall for Vidarbha. Batting first with Alind Naidu
(66) and then largely with the tail, Khare made his runs off 110
balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes in the process.Vidarbha reached their total of 295 in 83.3 overs, leaving time for
four overs to be bowled in Madhya Pradesh’s batting effort. The Madhya
Pradesh openers saw their side safely through to stumps without losing
any wickets.
