Published: Dec 25, 2018, 02:49 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 25, 2018, 02:49 PM (IST)
Chasing 270 to win on the fourth and final day, Services were bowled out for 188 with Jharkhand claiming 81-run victory in round 7 of their Ranji Trophy 2018-19, Elite C clash.
At the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, Shahbaz Nadeem trapped Services batsmen in a web of spin to finish with excellent figures of 7/62 while Ashish Kumar and Varun Aaron chipped in with a wicket each.
With his second delivery of the second innings, Nadeem trapped opener Nakul Verma for a two-ball duck and then Utkarsh Singh’s direct-hit resulted in no. 3 Aanshul Gupta also walking back without opening his account. At 1/2, the visitors were left struggling in the chase and then the pace duo of Ashish and Aaron compounded their problems by landing a blow each.
Opener Navneet Singh struggled to score during his stay and Nadeem ended his misery when he had him lbw on 1 off 42. He was the fifth wicket to fall as Services were left tottering on 27/5. Gahlaut Singh and Mohit Ahlawat arrested the slide, hitting half-centuries apiece.
From 27/5, they took the score to 100/5. But Nadeem struck again, twice in three deliveries to end the comeback. Ahlawat’s counterattacked, hitting 52 off 43 with six fours and two sixes before being bowled by Nadeem.
From 100/5, Services collapsed again to be reduced to 100/7. Another rescue act followed and this time Gahlaut was joined by Diwesh Pathania as they added 52 runs for the eighth wicket to again breath life in the chase.
Nadeem again broke their hearts, sending back Gahlaut on 61 and then wiping off the tail to star in Jharkhand’s fourth win of the season.
Brief Scores: Jharkhand 193 and 343 beat Services 267 and 188 by 81 runs
