Muristek
New Delhi, February 19
Punjab's bowlers complemented a superb show by the batters to put their team in the driver's seat against Himachal Pradesh in their Group F Ranji Trophy fixture here today.
Mayank Markande grabbed 2/51, while Baltej Singh and Arshdeep Singh bagged one wicket each to reduce Himachal Pradesh to 151/5 in their second essay. Himachal are still 21 runs short of avoiding an innings defeat. Earlier, resuming on 394/3, Punjab put up a strong show lower down the order to reach 526 in their first innings.
Overnight 62, Mandeep Singh stitched a fine 71-run stand with Sanvir Singh (48) for the sixth wicket before getting out for 84.
Brief Scores: Himachal Pradesh: 354 and 151/5 (Gangta 42, Vashisht 36*); Punjab: 526 (Prabhsimran 123, Mandeep 84; Arpit 4/111)
Maharashtra going strong
Maharashtra put themselves in a dominant position after bundling out Assam for a paltry 248 in their first essay on the third day of their Elite Group G game.
The Ankit Bawne-led side was in the driver's seat and enforced the follow-on, after which Assam ended the day at 82/3 in their second essay.
In pursuit of 415, Assam started at their overnight score of 81/2, but only Riyan Parag (88) put up any resistance as the other batters made a beeline for the dressing room. Left-arm spinner Satyajeet Bachhav (4/25) ran riot as he grabbed four wickets, including that of Parag.
Openers Rishav Das (34) and Subham Mandal (8), and Gokul Sharma (0) were the three wickets to fall in the second innings.
Brief scores: Maharashtra 415 all out; Assam 248 all out (Parag 88, Mandal 49; Bachhav 4/2) and 82/3.
The superstar
Fresh from a lucrative IPL contract and some quality time among world beaters in the Indian dressing room, M Shahrukh Khan showed his class in the red-ball format with a magnificent 148-ball 194 that ensured a vital first-innings lead of 42 runs for Tamil Nadu against Delhi.
Coming in to bat at No. 7, Khan soaked up the pressure as he fell six runs short of his maiden First-Class double century to put Tamil Nadu in front with 10 sixes and 20 fours. Resuming at 75/2 on the third day, Tamil Nadu responded strongly in their Elite Group H match. They were all out for 494 before stumps. Brief scores: Delhi 452; Tamil Nadu in 107.5 overs (Khan 194, Indrajith 117; Mishra 6/108). —