Ranji Trophy: Kunal, Raj help Chandigarh hold out Goa for a draw

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Chandigarh, January 15

Inches close to face defeat, Chandigarh lads somehow managed to get one point against hosts Goa in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. Kunal Mahajan and Raj Angad Bawa emerged saviours on the last day of the match.

The hosts Goa claimed maximum of three points on the basis of the first innings lead on their home turf. In the second consecutive match, Chandigarh got a point after trailing on the first innings lead. In their first innings, Goa lads had posted 618/7. In reply, Chandigarh batters, despite losing five wickets at 200, managed to get 479 on the board.

Chandigarh’s overnight unbeaten pair of Mahajan and Bawa started the day at 348/5. The duo played calmly and added 55-run to their overnight partnership before Bawa was caught by Deepraj Gaonkar off Darshan Misal for 90 off 236 balls, with 11 boundaries and one six. Both batsmen raised a 203-run stand for the 6th wicket, which helped Chandigarh to avoid a straightaway defeat.

For Goa, Misal accounted a fifer, while Redkar (3/113) remained the other notable wicket taker. Arjun Tendulkar and Laskhay A Garg also took a wicket each. After taking a 139-run lead, Goa started their second innings at a slow pace. The openers played 9 overs and scored 25 without any loss to claim maximum points from this draw. Ishaan Gadekar (17) and RA Tripathi (5) scored unbeaten runs for the side, at the drawn of the stumps. Chandigarh’s next match is scheduled against Gujarat at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium from January 19.

Railways take 1st innings lead

Railways claimed maximum points on the basis of the first innings lead against hosts Punjab, at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur. In reply to Railway’s 345, Punjab lads bundled out for 178. Forced to follow-on, Punjab were playing at 53/1 when the match ended. Resuming from their overnight debacle of 56/6, Abhinav Sharma (73 off 92, with nine boundaries and three sixes) and Prerit Dutta (37 off 70 balls, with four boundaries) save the day for the hosts.