Ranji Trophy 2022: Jharkhand batters showed no mercy against a listless Nagaland attack.They continued their run-fest on day three by notching up 880 — the fourth-highest team total in Ranji Trophy, in Kolkata on Monday.
Resuming at their overnight score of 769/9 with Shahbaz Nadeem unbeaten on 123 and No. 11 Rahul Shukla on 29, there’s no declaration coming as Jharkhand’s last pair added 191 runs (from 323 balls) before bowled out in 203.4 overs.
The last partnership was highest in the entire innings . They made full use of the flat batting conditions and a below-par attack on offer from the Plate toppers.
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Jharkhand’s coach Satish Singh said :-
Defending their strategy, Jharkhand batting coach Satish Singh termed it a ”dead surface” on offer at the Eden Gardens . Satish said his side gave their lower order the much-needed batting practice ahead of their potential quarterfinal clash against Bengal.
Left-arm spinner Imliwati Lemtur (4/179) finally broke the partnership when Nadeem tried a reverse sweep in vain to be trapped lbw.
In retort, Nagaland 130/4 with two days’ remaining in the five-day knockout fixture; as Jharkhand put one foot in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal slated post-IPL in June.
Having kept the wickets for close to 204 overs across three days, veteran wicketkeeper-batter Chetan Bist showed no signs of fatigue.
Rajasthan’s glovesman remained unbeaten on a dogged 46 from 123 balls :-
The 32-year-old former Rajasthan glovesman remained unbeaten on a dogged 46 from 123 balls . While Abu Nechim was on 13 at close on day three. During Jharkhand innings, left-arm spinner Nadeem hit 22 fours and two sixes for his career-best 177 runs from 304 balls.
Shukla, on the other hand, dealt mostly on sixes. He smacked the ball over the boundary six times, and hit seven fours to his 149-ball , 85 not out.
Jharkhand’s score of 880 is the highest Ranji total at the turn of the 21st century . And fourth overall behind Hyderabad’s 944/6 declared (vs Andhra Pradesh, 1993-94), Holkar’s 912/8 declared (vs Mysore, 1945-46); and Tamil Nadu’s 912/6 declared (vs Goa 1988-89).
”It was a flat wicket on offer. We just wanted to bat for practice, especially the lower order who doesn’t get to bat much,” Singh told PTI after the end of day three.
Ranji Trophy 2022: Satish Singh said ” it will come handy in the knockouts ” :-
Ranji Trophy 2022 : ”It wouldn’t be an easy match in the Ranji quarters, most likely Bengal as they are the toppers. Hopefully, it will come handy in the knockouts as they (lower order) could play 150-200 balls.”
Asked to rate the Nagaland attack, he said: ”It’s a little difficult to judge their bowling on such a dead pitch.
”It’s a five-day match, so we had a lot of time. We wanted to bat as a unit. I had told the batters whoever gets set can play as long as he can.
He added ”If you see, most of the Plate matches played here all big scores — in the 600-700 range,” .
Brief Scores: Jharkhand: 880 all out in 203.4 overs (Kumar Kushagra 266, Shahbaz Nadeem 177, Virat Singh 107, Rahul Shukla 85 not out; Imliwati Lemtur 4/179, Khrievitso Kense 3/166) vs Nagaland 130/4 in 58 overs (Chetan Bist 46 batting, Shrikant Mundhe 39).
