Ranji Trophy Group B: Kaul destroys Delhi, Indrajith props up TN

Ranji Trophy Group B Round-up: Siddharth Kaul wreaked havoc with figures of 12.5-4-32-6 and he was well-supported by I Choudhary (3/34). Arpit Pannu (1/12) also took a wicket.

Delhi vs Punjab at New Delhi

Punjab seamer Siddarth Kaul returned with an impressive six-wicket haul to dismiss Delhi for 107 in their first innings on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Group B match at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi.

The 28-year-old Kaul wreaked havoc with figures of 12.5-4-32-6 and he was well-supported by I Choudhary (3/34). Arpit Pannu (1/12) also took a wicket.

Delhi skipper Nitish Rana's decision to bat first backfired with their batting line-up, including former India skipper Gautam Gambhir (1), failing to put up a fight against some quality bowling at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium here.

More than half the side failed to reach double-digit figures with K Bidhuri (27) emerging as Delhi's highest scorer.

Punjab then took a first inning lead of 29 runs after reaching 136 for 3 with skipper Mandeep Singh (54 batting) producing an unbeaten fifty and opener Jiwanjot Singh (39) and Anmolpreet Singh (22) also chipping in with useful contributions.

At stumps, veteran batsman Yuvraj Singh (16 batting) was giving Mandeep company at the crease.

Vikas Mishra (2/27) and Simarjeet Singh (1/17) were the wicket-takers for Punjab.

Brief Scores: Delhi 107 in 42.5 overs (K Bidhuri 27; Siddhart Kaul 6/32) Punjab: 136/3 in 45 overs (Mandeep Singh 54 batting; Vikas Mishra 2/27).

 

Tamil Nadu vs Bengal at Chennai

A fighting knock of 81 not out by Baba Aparajith and a half-century by M Kaushik Gandhi helped Tamil Nadu post 218 for 7 on the opening day against Bengal in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match

Batting first after winning the toss, the home team got off to a slow start with openers Gandhi and Abhinav Mukund negotiating the Bengal new ball attack cautiously.

However, Mukund fell for 9 to a catch by Kousik Ghosh off Ishan Porel's bowling. Aparajith, who joined Gandhi added 73 runs as Tamil Nadu looked to consolidate.

Bengal struck two quick blows, dismissing Gandhi (51) and captain B Indrajith (0). Jagadeesan and Aparajith put on a half-century partnership to steady Tamil Nadu.

Aparajith held firm even as wickets fell around him to see the day through.

The talented young Porel was the best bowler for Bengal with three wickets.

Brief scores: Tamil Nadu 218 for seven in 90 overs(M Kaushik Gandhi 51 (128b, 6x4s), BAparajith 81 batting (231b, 5x4, 1x6), N Jagadeesan 39, IshanPorel three for 29, PradiptaPramanik two for 69, Aamir Gani two for 66)

   

Kerala vs Madhya Pradesh at Trivandrum

Avesh Khan and Kuldeep Sen blew Kerala away in 35 overs, and MP are in complete control of the match with Rajat Patidar batting on 70 and Naman Ojha batting on 53.

Brief scores: Kerala 63 all out in 35 overs (AveshKhan 4 for 8) Vs Madhya Pradesh161 for 2 in 52.6 overs(Rajat Patidar 70 off 141, Naman Ojha 53 off 99).