Rishabh Pant became only the second wicketkeeper-batsman to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy © Prakash Parsekar
Maharashtra picked up the all-important first-innings points, despite a triple century from Rishabh Pant, as their run glut against Delhi, which was only the second first-class match to have two triple centuries, ended in a predictable draw. at the Wankhede Stadium. The first match took place in the 1988-89 edition, between Tamil Nadu and Goa, which saw triples from WV Raman and Kripal Singh.
Delhi had ended the third day on 376 for 5 in their first innings. That, after Maharashtra had piled on 635 for 2 declared, courtesy Swapnil Gugale‘s triple century and Ankit Bawne‘s double century, and the duo’s unbeaten, record-breaking third-wicket stand of 594 – the second-highest for any wicket in first-class history.
Pant, resuming on 155, scored 308 at breathtaking speed, off just 326 balls, studded with 42 fours and nine sixes. He became the third-youngest Indian to score a first-class triple century, after Wasim Jaffer and Abhinav Mukund, as well as the second wicketkeeper to score a triple ton in the Ranji Trophy, and seventh in first-class cricket. When he fell, stumped off the left-arm spin of Satyajeet Bachhav, Delhi were 577 for 7, still 58 shy of Maharashtra’s total. However, they were bowled out 46 balls later, for 590.
Maharashtra reached 58 for no loss in the second innings when play ended.
A low-scoring encounter between Odisha and Saurashtra ended with Odisha picking up a narrow 32-run win at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, thanks to right-arm medium pacer Suryakant Pradhan‘s 5 for 69. Odisha had taken 42-run first-innings lead, before getting dismissed for 169 in their second innings. Set 212, Saurashtra had limped to 96 for 5 at the end of the third day, with Sagar Jogiyani on 42 and Arpit Vasavada on 1. The two added 60 more, before Jogiyani fell lbw to Deepak Behera for 68. Vasavada fell for 45 eight overs later, and was the ninth man dismissed. Soon after, Saurashtra were bowled out for 179, having lost their last four wickets for 23 runs.
Karnataka collected first-innings points, courtesy their first-innings lead of 203 against Jharkhand in Greater Noida. Karnataka had put up 577 for 6 after making first use of the surface, courtesy R Samarth’s maiden double century. Jharkhand were 309 for 6, with Ishan Kishan unbeaten on 118 when the final day began. They folded for 374, with Kishan unbeaten on 159.
Legspinner Samar Quadri dismissed Karnataka’s top-three, before unbeaten half-centuries from Karun Nair and Kaunain Abbas took them to 162 for 3 when play ended.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo