Pune: Maharashtra’s Ranji Trophy season reached a new low on Tuesday when they not just lost the match inside two days against Railways, but were also relegated to Elite Group C of Ranji Trophy.
In a game being played at Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi, Maharashtra’s first innings was folded for mere 70 runs on Day 1, before Railways finished the day on 184 for 9. On Day 2, the hosts finished their first inninsg on 259, 181 runs ahead. In reply, Maharashtra’s second innings lasted just 39.1 overs, folding for 131 runs, hence suffering a humiliating innings and 58-run loss.
Railway’s first innings lasted for 77.4 overs, ie 466 balls, where as Maharashtra’s both innings lasted for 23.2 overs and 39.1 overs ie 375 balls in total, which is 15.1 overs less than the hosts first innings total.
Bachhav show
In what has been a horror show over two days for the visitors, the only spark for them has been the performance of Satyajeet Bachhav. In both the innings he was the top scorer with 15 and 27 runs respectively, while he picked up eight wickets for 108 runs sending down 36.4 overs. No other Maharashtra batsmen could make more than 20 runs apart from Bachhav, in either innings.
For Railways, captain Mahesh Rawat missed out on a century by 11-runs, scoring 89 off just 117 balls with nine fours. He stitched a partnership of 76 for the last wicket with No. 11 batsman Anureet Singh, who made unbeaten 36 in 63 balls with a four and three sixes.
In the bowling department, Avinash Yadav was the pick of the bowler for the hosts, as he finished with the match figures of 9 for 109, picking up a fifer in the second innings.
First win in Mumbai’s sight
Mumbai need just 14 runs to win their first match of their Ranji Trophy season, but the win would not be sufficient for the record champions to make progress to the quarter-finals.
Chattisgarh, were bowled out for 129 in their first innings, while Mumbai could manage 188 in their first innings.
Four-fers from Shardul Thakur and Tushar Deshpande helped Mumbai bowl out Chhattisgarh for 149 in their second innings before Mumbai cruised to 77 for no loss at stumps in a 91-run chase.
