Ranji Trophy 2015-16: Review of all the 2nd round matches

Ranji Trophy 2015-16: Review of all the 2nd round matches: Ravindra Jadeja topples Jharkhand under couple of days, while rain gods and Tiwary saves Bengal from the blushes. Assam floors Rajasthan with pace, as Maharashtra drew with Odisha. Gautam Gambhir was instrumental in Delhi’s win against Vidarbha, while Himachal Pradesh wraps up a 10-wicket win against Jammu and Kashmir.

Let’s take a quick look at the 2nd round matches of Ranji Trophy 2015-16:

Group A, 2nd Round

1.Assam goes on top of the table with an innings win:

Pacers Arup Das and Krishna Das shared 10 wickets between them to skittle Rajasthan out for 84 and lead Assam to a massive innings win. Arun Karthik lifted Assam with a valiant 151 before Rajasthan surrendered to a daunting task. Assam is currently on top of the table, all thanks to the massive win.

Assam 422 for 9 decl (Arun Karthik 151, Ajay Singh 5-116) beat Rajasthan 186 (Saxena 42, K Das 5-32) and 84 (AK Das 5-39, K Das 5-23) by an innings and 152 runs

K Das (Assam) won the man of the match award for his sublime spell of bowling.

2.Maharashtra pockets 3 points:

The visitors posted 281 on the board, as Khadiwale top scored with 74. For Odisha, Podder’s century went in vain, as the hosts were bowled out for 267. Kedar Jadhav scored a century in the second innings, while Odisha hanged in for a draw. Maharashtra grabbed 3 points with the 1st innings lead.

Maharashtra 281 (Khadiwale 74, Bawne 61, Pradhan 4-90) and 289 for 4 declared (Jadhav 100*, Gugale 71) drew with Odisha 267 (Podder 100, Pratik Das 62, Mundhe 6-62) and 129 for 5 (Rout 31, Sanklecha 2-11)

SS Mundhe (Maharashtra) was adjudged the man of the match for his 6 wicket haul.

3.Gambhir leads Delhi to a 10-wicket win:

India discard Gautam Gambhir called the toss right and sent Vidarbha to bat. Fazal scored a gritty 56, as the visitors were out for 298. Delhi replied in usual fashion with skipper Gambhir playing a captain’s knock. Gambhir lost his stick for 96, before the hosts took a lead. Vidarbha failed to rise to the occasion and got their tails down with 98 on the board. Unmkut Chand and Gambhir shared a 96-run stand to grab a bonus point, as Delhi won the match without losing any wickets.

Delhi 302 (Gambhir 96, Rana 61, Manan 53, Wakhare 5-113) and 96 for 0 (Chand 51*, Gambhir 45*) beat Vidarbha 298 (Fazal 56, Ishant 6-36) and 98 (Ishant 3-11, Sangwan 3-30, Manan 3-31) by ten wickets

Manan Sharma (Delhi) was awarded the player of the match for his all round effort.

4.Bengal holds for a draw against Karnataka:

The Bangalore drizzle ensured a comfortable draw for the visitors, as Manoj Tiwary and Naved took Bengal to a comfortable 249-4. Earlier in the match, Bengal batted first and posted 312 on the board, as Chatterjee lifted the visitors with his strokeful ton. In reply, Gopal and Nair scored centuries to take the home team to 537 before declaring the innings. Karnataka were eyeing a big win, but Tiwary and Naved forged a solid stand to pocket a point.

Bengal 312 (Chatterjee 145, Saha 90, Vinay 4-80) and 249 for 4 (Tiwary 103*, Naved 95) drew with Karnataka 537 for 9 dec (Gopal 139, Nair 126, Bhavane 119, Veer Pratap 4-86)

MK Tiwary (Bengal) picked up the man of the match trophy for his crucial knock.

Group B, 2nd Round

1.Crist spins Tamil Nadu to 3 points:

Twin centuries from Kousik and Rangarajan guided Tamil Nadu to 596. Madhya Pradesh faced a daunting task, but the openers eased the path with a 213 run partnership. Saxena went on to score a century, where as Shrivastava was out with 10 short of a ton. Madhya Pradesh looked all set to grab the 3 points until Crist spun his web. He picked up 4 wickets for 88 runs, as MP faltered for 407, giving away 3 points to Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu 596 for 9 declared (Kousik 151, Malolan 131, Birla 3-52) drew against Madhya Pradesh 407 (Saxena 124, Shrivastava 90, Crist 4-88)

J Kousik (Tamil Nadu) received the man of the match award for his gutsy 151.

2.Andhra bags 3 points against Gujrat:

Parthiv Patel guided Gujrat to 308, as Siva Kumar scalped 3 victims. Andhra in reply went on to post 421, all thanks to a patient century from Bharat. Gujrat in reply kept their wickets intact, as skipper Patel ensured a draw with the score board reading 254-4. Andhra grabbed 3 points on the basis of 1st innings lead, as Patel’s heroics earn Gujrat a point.

Andhra 421 (Bharat 127, Kaif 76, Kalaria 5-55) drew with Gujarat 308 (Parthiv 122, Siva Kumar 3-44) and 254 for 4 (Panchal 72, Merai 54)

KS Bharat (Andhra) took away the player of the match award for his patient 127.

3.Mumbai wins big against Punjab:

Thakur and Sandhu shared 8 wickets between them, as Punjab were rattled for 154. Mumbai in reply started on a good note, as Iyer brought up the second fastest double century of all time in the domestic circuit. Iyer scored 200 off 176 balls, while Tare chipped in with a stylish 137. Mumbai declared at 569-8, as Herwadkar did the rest for the host by picking up 6 wickets. Punjab couldn’t make Mumbai bat again, as the visitors fell 12 runs short and suffered an innings defeat.

Mumbai 569 for 8 declared (Iyer 200, Tare 137*, Sran 3-87) beat Punjab 154 (Sandhu 4-31, Thakur 4-47) and 403 (Mandeep 116, Jiwanjot 91, Herwadkar 6-52) by an innings and 12 runs.

SS Iyer (Mumbai) received the man of the match award for his match winning double century.

4.Pandya packs a punch as Baroda wins big:

Hardik Pandya and Swapnil Singh made the red cherry talk, as Railways were derailed for 166. In reply, Hooda carried Baroda’s hopes, as he stroked his way to a century, along with contributions from Waghmode and Devdhar. Anureet Singh picked up 5 wickets for the visitors but Baroda cracked the timber, as Railways were all out for 221. Pandya was again the pick of the bowlers picking up 3 wickets for 30 runs, as Baroda trumped the visitors by an innings and 113 runs.

Baroda 500 for 8 declared (Hooda 122, Devdhar 88, Anureet 5-111) beat Railways 166 (Karn 51, Pandya 5-61) and 221 (Awasthi 67, Pandya 3-30) by an innings and 113 runs.

H Pandya (Baroda) was adjudged the man of the match for his all-round show.

Group C, 2nd Round

1.Services takes home 3 points against Goa:

20-year-old right-arm seamer Poonam Poonia’s career-best figures of 5 for 60 in the first innings turned out to be a match winning one, as Goa tottered to 285 in reply to Services’s 402. Paliwal scored a gritty 92 and he was well supported by the rest of the batting line up. Services set a target of 335 for the host, as Goa faced 6 overs till stumps on Day 4. Services bagged 3 points on the basis of the first innings lead.

Services 402 (Paliwal 92, Anshul Gupta 89, Jakati 3-80 ) and 217 for 6 declared (Chatterjee 64, Yashpal Singh 59, Amit Yadav 3-40) drew with Goa 285 (Asnodkar 139, Poonia, 5-60) and 3 for 0.

PS Poonia (Services) received the man of the match award for his fiery spell in the first innings.

2.Himachal Pradesh beats Jammu and Kashmir with ease:

Rishi Dhawan picked up 4 wickets, as J&k posted 293, with Rasool scoring a strokeful ton. In reply, Gangta lifted Himachal with his double century along with Bipul Sharma’s hundred to take the score to 554. Kashmir were bundled out for 276, with Himachal left to chase 16 runs to win. Himachal wrapped up the encounter without loosing any wicket.

N Gangta (Himachal Pradesh) took the honours for his double ton.

Himachal Pradesh 554 (Gangta 203, Bipul 117) and 16 for 0 beat Jammu & Kashmir 293 (Rasool 114, Rishi Dhawan 4-107) and 276 (Khajuria 76, Vasisht 4-71) by 10 wickets.

3.Kerala choked again! 

Hyderabad hanged in for a draw, as Kerala failed to execute the early advantage. The day began in perfect style for Kerala, as left-arm spinner KS Monish ran through Hyderabad’s batting in the first innings with career-best figures of 6 for 91, helping the visitors bowl them out for 218. Hyderabad followed the massive total again, but the script was pretty much the same with Monish picking 5 quick wickets. Hassan played out 51 balls and ensured a draw. Hyderabad will be more than happy to keep a point.

Kerala 401 (Prem 208, Bhandari 5-72) drew with Hyderabad 218 (Akshath Reddy 73, Monish 6-91) and 176 for 6 (Tanmay Agarwal 64, Monish 5-73)

PR Prem (Kerala) was adjudged the man of the match, courtesy his beautiful double century.

4.Jadeja shutters Jharkhand’s hopes:

Ravindra Jadeja marked his fourth successful outing, as he rattled Jharkhand with 7-55. Batting first, Jharkhand started on a poor note, as the team was sent packing for 168. In no time, Saurashtra took a lead, again thanks to Jadeja, this time scoring a half century. Jharkhand eyed a big total, but apart from Ishank Jaggi none of the batter’s reached the 30’s. Jadeja took home his fourth signatured ball, as he wrecked havoc by picking up 7 wickets, while Jharkhand fell for 122. Saurashtra chased down the target of 86 losing 2 wickets.

Saurashtra 205 (R Jadeja 58, Nadeem 4-38) and 86 for 2 beat Jharkhand 168 (Kishan 87, R Jadeja 6-71, Makvana 4-46) and 122 (R Jadeja 7-55) by eight wickets

R Jadeja (Saurashtra) picked up yet another award. He picked up 13 wickets and scored 58 runs with the bat.