Ranji Trophy 2023-24, Round 6 Highlights: Tamil Nadu hold Karnataka in exciting draw, Delhi earn consecutive victory. Top five games from Round 6 of Ranji Trophy 2023-24.
The sixth and penultimate round in the group stage of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 produced more thrilling results. With victories in the plate semifinals, both Hyderabad and Meghalaya earned promotion to the elite group. Moreover, Madhya Pradesh joined Mumbai to qualify for the quarter-final round.
Mizoram’s Agni Chopra is still the highest run-getter of the season so far with 939 runs in six games at an average of 78.25, while Hyderabad’s Tanay Thyagarajan is the top wicket-taker with 46 wickets at an average of 14.13.
Let’s scan the top five encounters of the fifth round
Himachal Pradesh vs Delhi: Ayush Badoni’s terrific century gave Delhi consecutive wins
It was a fantastic performance from Delhi to come from behind and script an outstanding win. On winning the toss in Dharamshala, hosts Himachal Pradesh opted to bowl first. Delhi were struggling at 20/3 early on, but half-centuries from Ayush Badoni (51) and captain Himmat Singh (60) in an 87-run fourth wicket stand took them to 264. Both Ravi Thakur (85) and Rishi Dhawan (95) missed out on their centuries but gave HP a vital first-innings lead of 55 runs.
Delhi showed a better performance with the bat in the second innings. Anju Rawat carried himself to a 32-ball 54-run knock before Ayush Badoni’s 115-ball 111 helped them declare on 381/6. No one could stand with the bat in the second innings for Himachal Pradesh apart from Rishi Dhawan (65). Himanshu Chauhan’s 5/54 bundled out HP for 250 to earn a 76-run victory for Delhi.
Brief Scores: DEL 264 (Himmat 60, Galetiya 5/66) & 381/6 dec (Badoni 111, Dhawan 2/60) beat HP 319 (Dhawan 95, Siddhant 5/103) & 250 (Dhawan 65, Himanshu 5/54) by 76-runs.
Rajasthan vs Saurashtra: Jadeja’s 12-wicket haul gave Saurashtra a 218-run win
At the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Saurashtra opted to bat first. They were struggling early on 74/3 before a 168-run fourth wicket stand between twin centurions Cheteshwar Pujara (110) and Sheldon Jackson (116) propelled them to 328. So many batters for Rajasthan got starts but couldn’t get to a big score as the hosts were bundled out for 257.
Saurashtra batted with intent in the second innings to give them a chance to squeeze up a result. Arpit Vasavada’s unbeaten 74-run knock helped them declare on 234/6. In one of their worst batting performances, Rajasthan could only reach 87 in their second innings. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja finished with 7/32, as the visitors earned a heavy 218-run victory.
Brief Scores: SAU 328 (Jackson 116, Pujara 110, Kukna Ajay 5/120) & 234/6 dec (Vasavada 74*, Suthar 2/63) beat RAJ 257 (Kukna Ajay 44, D Jadeja 5/99) & 87 (Godara 30, D Jadeja 7/32) by 218-runs.
Maharashtra vs Vidarbha: Karun Nair’s 129-run knock presented Vidarbha 10-wicket haul
At Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, Vidarbha opted to bowl first. No one could notch up a fifty in the first innings for the hosts, who were bundled out for just 208. The visiting side batted in full flow, as Karun Nair cracked a 129-run knock. Captain Akshay Wadkar (90) and Dhruv Shorey (92) missed out on their centuries to take Vidarbha to 552 in their first innings.
The hosts displayed a better show with the bat. Murtaza Trunkwala (86) and Digvijay Patil (68) stitched up a 108-run third-wicket stand. Ankit Bawne also made an 84-run knock as the home side managed 371 in their second innings. Vidarbha chased down the target with 10 wickets in hand.
Brief Scores: VID 552 (Nair 129, Shorey 92, Walunj 4/127) & 26/0 (Shorey 22*) beat MAH 208 (Ingale 36, Thakur 3/68) & 371 (Trunkwala 86, Thakare 5/54) by 10-wkts.
Tamil Nadu vs Karnataka: Padikkal cracked a 151-run knock, before TN registered a thrilling draw
In one of the elite games of the tournament, Karnataka won the toss and opted to bat first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Devdutt Padikkal smashed an epic 151-run knock as the visitors posted 366 in their first innings. A poor show with the bat from Tamil Nadu found them getting bundled out for just 151.
But the hosts made a fantastic comeback in the game, on the back of 5/61 from Sriram Ajith Ram. The visitors made a paltry 139 in their second innings. Tamil Nadu batted for the whole fourth day. Baba Indrajith missed out on a well-deserved century by two runs, while Vijay Shankar stood tall for his 60-run knock. The hosts finished on 338/8 to hold their nerve on a thrilling draw.
Brief Scores: TN 151 (Indrajith 48, Vyshak 4/26) & 338/8 (Indrajith 98, Vyshak 3/71) drew with KAR 366 (Padikkal 151, Ajith Ram 4/75) & 139 (Padikkal 36, Ajith Ram 5/61).
Punjab vs Gujarat: Priyajitsing Jadeja’s 10/99 tracked Gujarat back to winning ways
Hosts Punjab, on winning the toss, decided to bowl first in Mohali. The 145-run opening stand between Priyank Panchal (77) and Aditya Patel (58) gave them the perfect platform for their 339 in the first innings. Only captain Mandeep Singh stood out with his 76, as Punjab could manage 219, giving away a lead of 120 runs.
The 137-run fourth wicket stand between Sunpreetsingh Bagga (79) and Umang Kumar (41) helped the visitors declare on 290/8. Not even a single player could go past the 20-run mark, as Punjab was blown away for just 111. Priyajitsing Jadeja’s 5/39 gifted Gujarat a 299-run victory.
Brief Scores: GUJ 339 (Panchal 77, Kaul 3/87) & 290/8 Dec (Bagga 79, Baltej 2/55) beat PUN 219 (Mandeep 76, Jadeja 5/60) & 111 (Mandeep 18, Jadeja 5/39) by 299-run.
Apart from these, Prithvi Shaw cracked a 159-run knock against Chhattisgarh. Kerala’s Jalaj Saxena finished with a 13-wicket haul against Bengal. Madhya Pradesh kept their unbeaten streak with another victory by innings and 52 runs over Baroda. The seventh and final round of the group stage in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 will begin on February 16, 2024.
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