Hyderabad relegated to Ranji Plate Group by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Nehru Stadium, Guwahati, Jadavpur University Complex, Kolkata, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, Karnail Singh Stadium, Delhi, Khandheri Cricket Stadium, Rajkot
Scorecard:	Assam v Andhra, Bengal v Delhi, Hyderabad v Tamil Nadu, Mumbai v Gujarat, Railways v Punjab, Saurashtra v Karnataka
Player:	P Bisht, C Ganapathy, AC Absolem, SB Bangar, MK Pandey, RV Uthappa
Event:	Ranji Trophy 2009/10

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DateLine: 19th December 2009

 

Tamil Nadu versus Hyderabad

 

Hyderabad has been relegated for the first time to the Plate Group by finishing at the bottom of the Group A table in the Ranji Trophy Super League. On the final day Tamil Nadu scored a mammoth 785 in reply to Hyderabad’s 347 in the four-day match that ended in a tame draw with the home team finishing at 148 for two in its second innings at close of play.

 

C. Ganapathy completed a well-struck century while Alfred Absolom picked up his fourth five-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy as Tamil Nadu finally folded up 43 minutes after lunch. After this match Tamil Nadu topped the table with 26 points from seven matches while Hyderabad had seven from seven to finish at the bottom in Group A.

 

Railways versus Punjab

 

Sanjay Bangar’s century was some consolation for Railways as it drew its match against Punjab in the Ranji Trophy super league at the Karnail Singh Stadium here. The three points earned from the draw carried Punjab into the quarterfinals while Railways finished fourth in the group with a tally of 14 points. Tamil Nadu (26), Punjab (19) and Mumbai (19) finished in that order.

 

Resuming at 16 for one, Railways batted through the day with Bangar making the most of the conditions. His 263-ball knock contained ten fours and three sixes while Harshad Rawle chipped in with a 40 off 138 balls with four fours.

 

Delhi versus Bengal

 

Delhi’s wicketkeeper-batsman Puneet Bisht and tailenders got past the follow-on mark on the final day of the four-day Ranji Trophy group ‘B’ Super League which ended in a draw at the Jadavpur University 2nd campus on Friday. By virtue of the first innings lead Bengal earned three points to reach 11 and Delhi got one to take its tally to 16 and progress to the knockout stage from this group as the No. 3 side behind Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.

 

Bengal, which returned to the Super League this season, retained its position. When play resumed on the fourth day, the only interest was whether Bengal would be able to enforce the follow-on. Overnight centurion Bisht with the support of tailenders managed to take the total past the 373 mark before being dismissed for 378.

 

Karnataka versus Saurashtra

 

Manish Pandey continued to impress everyone as he was the lynch pin in a chase that gave Karnataka a comprehensive win. He smartly turned the tide in favour of his team to notch up its fourth win before the tea interval in the Ranji Trophy Super league match.

 

Set a target of 241, Karnataka suffered setbacks after opener and skipper Robin Uthappa struck ten thundering shots to the fence, but Pandey smothered the home team’s push for victory. Karnataka, with 28 points from six league matches, will meet Punjab in the quarterfinals on December 24 at Mysore. Pandey collared the Saurashtra attack in his 73-ball 68 and conveyed a clear message to the home team that his team will close the match as an emphatic winner.

 

Mumbai versus Gujarat

 

Mumbai obtained the first innings lead over Gujarat and entered the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy Super League from Group ‘A’. Resuming at 432 for three in reply to Mumbai’s 648, Gujarat was all out for 502 thereby conceding the first innings lead.

 

Assam versus Andhra Pradesh

 

Assam coasted to a five-wicket victory to make to the Super League next year and also qualified to play the knockout as one of the plate division sides. Assam has drawn to play Uttar Pradesh, which finished second in group ‘B’ of the Super League, in the knockout round to be played at Guwahati from December 24.