Ranji Trophy 2015, Group A: Delhi follow on against Karnataka, stare at elimination

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With 241 runs in arrears, skipper Gambhir (13 batting) and Unmukt Chand (3 batting) are battling at least get a point as they still need 220 runs to avoid innings defeat.

If Delhi lose the match, they would be practically out of contention for a berth in the quarter-finals from Group A as they will finish their league engagements with 24 points from eight games.

If they happen to manage a point and finish on 25 points, still they have very little chance of making it as it will depend on the equation of the last round matches.

Starting the day at 60 for one, Delhi batsmen could never set the tempo during the 104.1 overs that they batted.

Skipper Gambhir top scored with 75 off 151 balls that had 10 fours, but it was yet another patchy effort from the veteran India discard, who just about managed to survive.

When he managed to break the shackles, it was part-time off-breaks of Karun Nair, that saw him edge one to CM Gautham behind stumps.

Earlier, talented Dhruv Shorey (16) was padded a wrong one from Shreyash Gopal as Delhi lost wickets at one end.

Left-handers Nistish Rana (32) and Vaibhav Rawal (54) were out after getting set. In the lower order, Manan Sharma (56) hit 11 lusty boundaries en route his half-century but Delhi were never in serious contention of chasing down the mammoth first innings target set by the hosts.

Karnataka bowlers hunted down Delhi as a team with seamers HS Sharath (2/46), Sreenath Aravind (2/41) and Abhimanyu Mithun (2/52) sharing the spoils. Leggie Gopal also chipped in with a couple of wickets while R Vinay Kumar and Karun shared one apiece.

Brief Scores: Karnataka 1st Innings 542

Delhi 1st Innings 301 all out in 104.1 overs (Gautam Gambhir 75, Manan Sharma 56, Vaibhav Rawal 54, Sreenath Aravind 2/41, HS Sharath 2/46).

Delhi 2nd Innings (Following on) 22/0 (Gautam Gambhir batting 13).
Advantage Rajasthan despite Saini’s century

Haryana have a tough task of saving their Ranji Trophy match against Rajasthan despite a valiant 146 from opener Nitin Saini in their second innings on day three here today.

Two quick wickets including Saini’s towards the end of day left Haryana at 287 for six and with an uncomfortable lead of 120 runs. The hosts were bowled out for 112 on day one and the visitors replied with 279.

Haryana, resuming the day at 62 for no loss, have put a much better batting effort in the second innings though it has not yet bailed them out of trouble.

Brief scores: Haryana 112 and 287/6 in 101 overs (Nitin Saini 146, Mohit Hooda 56; Pankaj Singh 3/73). Rajasthan 279.
Assam in command as Maharashtra reduced to 160/6 on Day 3

Assam bowlers led by their strike bowler Krishna Das pegged Maharashtra to 160 for six on the third day of their group A Ranji Trophy encounter to keep their chances of qualifying for the knock-out rounds alive.

After Assam scored 298 in their first innings, in-form pacer Krishna took 4/58 as the hosts still need 139 runs to get three points from the match.

If Assam can manage three from this game, their chances of making it to the quarter-final will be alive as they will be on 25 points going into the last group-league encounter against Bengal at home.

Starting the day at 223 for four, centurion KB Arun Karthik (130) and Gokul Sharma (76) added 162 runs for the fifth-wicket stand before Assam lost their last six wickets for 45 runs.

Brief Scores: Assam 1st innings 298 in 105 overs (KB Arun Karthik 130, Gokul Sharma 76, Shrikant Mundhe 4/67)

Maharashtra 1st Innings 160/6 in 54 overs (Rahul Tripathi 52, Krishna Das 4/58)