Ranji Trophy: Another defeat for UT lads; Punjab lose to Maharashtra

After facing massive defeats against Tamil Nadu, Goa, Maharashtra and Punjab, the city lads once again faltered in their ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign — faced an innings and 185-run defeat against Karnataka, as the match ended in three days.

Eyeing to overtake Karnataka’s first innings total of 547 runs, the city batters posted 222 in their first innings, and were later bundled out at 140, when put to follow-on.

Resuming from 72/4, Chandigarh batters failed to read Karnataka’s bowlers. Overnight unbeaten Chandigarh skipper continued his innings and posted 106 off 161 balls, with 12 boundaries and one six. Ankit Kaushik left the crease without opening his account, and Raj Angad Bawa added 10, before falling prey to Shreyas Gopal. Gaurav Puri played for a while and posted a 62-ball 32, but was bowled by Shikhar Shetty. After his wicket, Gopal accounted Taranpreet Singh (7) and Jagjit Singh Sandhu (0), while Sheety claimed Nishunk Birla (9), as Chandigarh innings was folded at 222.

Forced to follow-on, the local batters continued to carry forward their previous mistakes. Chandigarh opener Arun Azad went back to the hut without making any contribution, while Nihil Thakur (19) and Shivam Bhambri (43 off 47 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) remained at the crease, until Gopal returned to bowl. Skipper Vohra added 6, while Kauhsik recorded a pair by getting out for a duck in the same innings. Bawa contributed 27, but Puri (13), Taranpreet (4), Vishu (5) and Sandhu (4) made a little impact as the Chandigarh innings collapsed at 140. Shetty accounted 5/61 in the second innings for the bowling side, taking his total tally to seven wickets, whereas Gopal claimed 3/45, after claimed 7/73 in the first innings.

In Mullanpur, Punjab went down against Maharashtra by an innings and 92 runs. The hosts were bundled out at 151 and later at 107 in their two innings. RS Hangargekar claimed five wickets in the first innings, while Vicky Ostwal bagged six in the second for the visiting side.

Cooch Behar Trophy

Uttar Pradesh beat Chandigarh by an innings and 176 run as the local batters failed to come close to the 431-run first innings total set by the hosts in Saharanpur, during the Day 3 of the Cooch Behar Trophy match, at Solitaire Cricket Ground. Continuing from 89/5, the Chandigarh batters were packed at 191 in their second innings. The team was bundled out at 64 in their first innings.