Ranji Trophy 2016-17, Eighth Round Day 4 Round-up: Kuldeep Yadav shines

Karnataka finally lost a game in this year’s Ranji Trophy while reigning champions Mumbai hung on in their clash with Bengal on the final day of the penultimate round of the group stage of this year’s Ranji Trophy.

Despite being bowled out for 99 on day one, Bengal almost claimed an improbable victory over reigning Ranji champions Mumbai on the back of captain Manoj Tiwary’s 169 but a resolute lower-order defense meant that Bengal had to settle for a draw in Nagpur.

Mumbai had taken a 130-run first innings and look on course for a victory but Tiwary’s 169 helped Bengal post 437 in the second innings and set Mumbai a daunting 308 for victory. Dhawal Kulkarni starred with the ball in the second innings with a five-wicket haul to go with his three in the first innings.

Ashok Dinda’s fiery spell reduced Mumbai to 67/5 but Shubham Ranjane, Abhishek Nayar and Kulkarni mixed defence with cautious aggression to help Mumbai finish on 203/6 and the sides had to settle for a draw, with Mumbai taking the three points for the first innings lead.

Bengal 99 and 437 vs Mumbai 229 and 203/6

Chasing 376, Railways were struggling at 26/5 at the start of the final day of their clash with Uttar Pradesh and Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket haul ensured that Suresh Raina’s side claimed a big win at Rajkot. On the back of Suresh Raina’s 91 in both innings, Uttar Pradesh set a steep target that proved to be too much for Railways despite impressive bowling performances from IPL star Karn Sharma who took nine wickets and scored 50 runs in the game.

Although UP was struggling at 127/6, Raina’s 91 helped them post 259. In response, Railways were bowled out for 214, handing UP the advantage amd Raina once again made the most by scoring 91 and helping his side post 330 and set a target of 356. Ultimately, that was too much as Kuldeep reaffirmed his credentials for the Indian side with six wickets in the match, giving his side a 220-run victory.

Uttar Pradesh 259 and 330 beat Railways 214 and 155 by 220 runs

Chasing just 58 for victory, Saurashtra were given a scare by Karnataka but first-innings centurion P Mankad held his nerve to give his side their first win of the season and also hand Vinay Kumar’s side their first loss of this year’s campaign at the Dhruv Pandove Stadium in Patiala.

With a game left to play, Saurashtra's four-wicket victory not only helped them get off the bottom in Group B but also got them to 13 points with a game in hand, so as to ensure that they didn’t get relegated. Manish Pandey once again got to fifty but Karnataka were bowled out for 216 leaving just 58 to win. But Gowtham K picked up four wickets and almost snatched an improbable victory but Mankad’s unbeaten 14 guided Saurashtra to safety and victory.

Saurashtra 359 and 58/6 beat Karnataka 200 and 216 by four wickets

It took just two balls for Devendra Bundela’s Madhya Pradesh to wrap up a victory over Baroda on the final day at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala. Having been set a stiff target on day three, an epic collapse triggered by Chandrakant Sakure’s 5/17 meant that Irfan Pathan’s side had no way back. Despite Irfan Pathan picking up four wickets across both innings, the side paid for another batting collapse, this time in both innings of the match.

Baroda 164 and 114 lost to Madhya Pradesh 217 and 293 by 232 runs

Brief scores

Group A

Gujarat 624/6 dec drew with Punjab 247 and 241/2

Group B

Assam 126 and 299 lost to Jharkhand 316 and 111/5 by five wickets

Odisha 319 beat Maharashtra 94 and 107 by an innings and 118 runs

Vidarbha 183 and 37/3 drew with Delhi 250/8 dec

Group C

Kerala 193 and 183/3 beat Tripura 213 and 162 by seven wickets

Andhra 159 and 198 lost to Goa 115 and 276 by 34 runs

Chhattisgarh 281 and 266 lost to Services 225 and 340/7 by 18 runs

Hyderabad 328 and 244/2 dec beat Jammu and Kashmir 169 and 117 by 286 runs

Himachal 233 and 432/5 dec drew with Haryana 402 and 162/3

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