Ranji Trophy - Sudip Gharami's maiden double-ton strengthens Bengal's lead

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Bengal 418 for 6 (Gharami 216*, Sumanta 81, Gandhi 45*, Sasikanth 2-59) lead Andhra 295 by 123 runs

Just one wicket fell in the 83 overs of play in Kalyani on Sunday, as Sudip Kumar Gharami’s unbeaten 216 stretched Bengal’s first-innings lead against Andhra to 123. It was also Gharami’s maiden first-class double hundred, during which he lifted Bengal from 43 for 3 at one stage to 418 for 6.

Gharami deflated Andhra with his patience and grit, facing up equally well to the quicks, who used the around-the-wicket angle to pepper him with short balls, and the left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar, who looked to land the ball in the foot-holes outside the leg stump while going over the wicket.

Gharami batted 451 balls for his knock, and received good support from Sumanta Gupta and Habib Gandhi. Gharami added 165 runs for the sixth wicket with Sumanta, and then an undefeated 100 for the seventh with Gandhi. The stand with Sumanta ended when, on 81, the batter got a leading edge to silly point off Saurabh.

The Bengal batters were content in taking their time on a pitch showing signs of wear and tear. The hosts already have the advantage of a first-innings lead, by virtue of which they can qualify for the semi-final if the match ends in a draw. But Gharami and Gandhi (45*) will look to completely bat Andhra out of the game on day four.

Uttarakhand 371 (Suchith 70, Chandela 68, Sudha 64, Aditya 2-57) beat Jharkhand 235 (Aditya 83, Joshi 4-46, Rawat 3-39, Mishra 3-50) and 130 (Virat 55, Mishra 5-22, Negi 4-36) by an innings and six runs

Only two Jharkhand batters got into double figures as left-arm spinner Mayank Mishra (5 for 22) and right-arm seamer Abhay Negi (4 for 36) ran through the hosts.

The day had started with Uttarakhand 47 runs ahead in the first innings. Jagadeesa Suchith took that lead to 136 by scoring a patient 70 off 172 balls. Negi contributed 46 from No. 8, while wicketkeeper-batter Saurabh Rawat scored 32, as Uttarakhand kept chipping away.

After taking the first-innings lead, Uttarakhand struck early with the ball in the second. Negi dismissed the Jharkhand openers to leave the hosts at 14 for 2. But recovery followed, as Virat Singh and Kumar Kushagra joined hands. Mishra broke the 86-run stand on the third ball of the 28th over by having the Jharkhand captain Virat caught for 55, and thereafter, a procession took over.

Robin Minz fell first ball, and Kushagra was dismissed for 34. As Negi and Mishra struck one after the other, they were left in a race to complete a five-for as both had four wickets at one stage and only one Jharkhand wicket was left to be taken.

But it was Mishra who got to the landmark when he had Jatin Pandey caught at short leg.

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