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| Saurashtra, Andhra advance to Ranji quarters; Mumbai & Maharashtra out | | | agencies
NEW DELHI, Jan 28: Saurashtra, despite a loss in the final round game to Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh on Friday advanced to the knockout stage of the Ranji Trophy from Group B after the Mumbai-Maharashtra game ended in an exciting draw.
Though Saurashtra, Andhra and Maharashtra finished equal on 26 points after the seven rounds of the league phase, the first two teams entered the quarterfinals while Maharashtra missed out because it did not gain any bonus point.
Andhra, which had been on 19 points before the final round match against Assam, routed their opponent by an innings to gain a bonus point which helped them pip Maharashtra.
Mumbai, which was in the reckoning but needed to win or secure a first innings lead to grab three points and reach 26 points, managed only 1 after a tie with Maharashtra on the first innings score of 374 in the final round match.
In Chennai, left-arm spinner S Ajith Ram came up with a six-wicket haul to propel Tamil Nadu to a 59-run win over Saurashtra.
Needing 266 for victory, the visiting team was bowled out for 206 in 68.2 overs as Harvik Desai's marathon knock of 101 (205 balls, 10 fours, 3 sixes) went in vain.
Elsewhere, Hyderabad succumbed to a nine-wicket defeat to Delhi to end a dismal season with six straight defeats after a draw against TN in the opening game. Hyderabad will be relegated to the Plate group next season.
MP, Punjab advance
Ahmedabad: Defending champions Madhya Pradesh and Punjab qualified for the quarter-finals after finishing in the top two positions in Group D following a draw in their respective matches.
While holders MP folded for 331 to concede a first-innings lead to Tripura, Punjab didn't get to bat as Vidarbha ended their first innings on the fourth day at 273 for six following loss of play due to bad weather.
The draw, however, wouldn't hurt MP as they finished at the top of Group D table with 33 points from seven matches. Punjab (27) and Railways (22) ended at second and third spots respectively.
On day four, medium pacer Rana Dutta completed a five-wicket haul as Tripura dismissed holders Madhya Pradesh for 331 in their first innings to grab three points on the basis of first-innings lead.
The 33-year-old emerged as the most successful bowler as MP could add another 172 runs to their overnight score of 159 for 2 to hand Tripura a crucial 31-run first-innings lead. |
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