Published: Dec 23, 2016, 07:25 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 23, 2016, 07:25 PM (IST)
The fourth quarter-final of Ranji Trophy 2016-17 season being played between Haryana and Jharkhand at Moti Bagh Stadium, Vadodara saw Jharkhand take pole position on Day One. After winning the toss, Mohit Sharma-led Haryana opted to bat first. But Jharkhand spinner Shahbaz Nadeem bowled an impressive spell by taking yet another five-wicket haul to put Haryana on backfoot. He reduced Haryana for 71 for 3, taking all three wickets. From there on, Chaitanya Bishnoi and Rajat Paliwal did the job of rescuing Haryana from trouble as the side ended Day One on 251 for 7. At stumps, Sanjay Pahal and Harshal Patel were the two unbeaten batsmen.
From the start, Haryana’s batting looked shaky but managed to put up a fight as the day progressed. Openers Nitin Saini and Shubham Rohilla gave Haryana a decent start after which Rohilla was the first one to depart for 18. Soon Saini too walked back to pavilion for 22, followed by Shivam Chauhan’s wicket. All three wickets were taken by spinner Nadeem and at that point, Haryana were three down for 71.The duo of Bishnoi and Paliwal then scored in 40s and added crucial 83 runs for the fourth wicket. As both Bishnoi and Paliwal looked set at the crease, Nadeem once again struck and scalped both the wickets. Bishnoi scored 41, while Paliwal made 42.
Haryana were once again in trouble as they were 5 wickets down for 155, with Nadeem taking all five wickets. Further, Rohit Sharma (not the Team India one) and Amit Mishra (the real one) began building another partnership. Both collected 36 runs together before Sharma was dismissed for 18.. This was the first wicket of the day which did not fall under Nadeem’s account. Soon Mishra too got out for 16 off Samar Quadri.
Despite having taken 7 wickets of Haryana at 195, Jharkhand bowlers continued to leak runs to Haryana’s tail. Towards the end of the day’s play, Jharkhand bowlers failed to bowl out Haryana and as a result of which, the two unbeaten batsmen Pahal and Harshal Patel added 56 runs for the eighth wicket. Haryana scored 251 for 7 at the stumps of Day One.
Brief Scores:
Haryana 251 for 7 (Rajat Paliwal 42, Chaitanya Bishnoi 41; Shahbaz Nadeem 5 for 75) vs Jharkhand.
