Assam, Services play out shortest match in Ranji history

Outright results

In an extraordinary game that lasted just 90 overs in total, Services beat Assam by 8 wickets to break the record for the shortest Ranji fixture ever in terms of balls. The previous shortest recorded match was played out in 1962 between Railways and Delhi that lasted just 547 balls. The game was always headed for an early finish on the second day after 25 wickets fell on the opening day that saw two Services bowlers pick up hat-tricks. Assam lost their remaining five wickets on the second day and set Services 71 to win - a target that was overhauled with 8 wickets left.

Best batting performances

Karun Nair's successful return to the Karnataka setup continued as he smashed an unbeaten 174 on a rain-hit day in Shimoga. Resuming the day on 86*, Nair added vital runs with the lower order to guide his side to a strong total after their struggles on the opening day. In reply, Goa lost opener Manthan Khutkar before rain arrived.

Ajinkya Rahane converted his century into a big one as Mumbai finished the second day at 406/8. Only 46 overs were possible on a rain-hit day in Mumbai as Rahane finished with 159. Akash Anand hit a gritty unbeaten 60 and skipper Shardul Thakur contributed 29 to drag Mumbai past 400.

A great effort from the Punjab lower order helped them flip the script against Kerala as they ended up posting 436 in their first innings. Finishing at 240/6 by stumps, Punjab were first aided by their overnight centurion Harnoor Singh who finished with 170. Prerit Dutta then hit 72 and Mayank Markande frustrated the Kerala attack by scoring 48* off 141 balls to help Punjab finish on a high. Kerala also lost one of their openers before stumps.

Yash Dubey led Madhya Pradesh's response with a patient century on the second day against Saurashtra. The opener was involved in a big partnership for the first wicket and MP were actually well placed at 151/1 in response to Saurashtra's 260. However, the home side came up with a late fightback to pick up three wickets even though Dubey hit a ton. Ravindra Jadeja, who hit 36 on the first day, went wicketless on the second.

Best bowling performances

Shahbaz Ahmed ran through the Gujarat middle order to leave them reeling at 107/7. Resuming at 244/7, Bengal added just 35 more runs but Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep struck early to rattle Gujarat. Skipper Manan Hingrajia fought hard for an unbeaten 41 off 163 but Shami added one more to his tally before Shahbaz picked four quick wickets to put Bengal firmly on top.

An all-round performance from Auqib Nabi has put Rajasthan on the brink of a heavy loss against Jammu and Kashmir. Nabi first hit a sparkling half-century lower down the order to add to the contributions from Abdul Samad and Yudhvir Singh, who also smashed a quickfire fifty as J&K took a first innings lead of 130. Nabi then ripped through the Rajasthan lineup to reduce them to 38/5, picking all five wickets to make sure J&K enter the third day as outright favourites.

Gurjapneet Singh's four-fer, including a hat-trick, crippled Nagaland on the second day after Tamil Nadu declared their first innings at 512/3. TN's declaration came shortly after Pradosh Ranjan Paul completed his double century. Gurjapneet then rattled Nagaland by picking four quick wickets to reduce them to 31/4. However, Dega Nischal and Yugandhar Singh denied TN further until stumps by putting up a stubborn century stand.

Vicky Ostwal's six-fer put Maharashtra in command of their Ranji fixture against Chandigarh as it helped them fetch a first innings lead of 104. Ostwal first crippled their middle order before running through the tail to help his side gain a significant lead which was then extended to 170 by stumps following Prithvi Shaw's belligerent start where he raced to an unbeaten 41 off just 36 balls.