From 35/3 to 35 all out, MP slip to a heavy loss

In a dramatic collapse, hosts Madhya Pradesh lost their last seven wickets for no run to be bowled out for a paltry 35 in their second innings against Andhra in their Group ‘B’ Ranji Trophy game here on Wednesday.

Thanks to the collapse, Madhya Pradesh crashed to 307-run defeat.

Chasing 342, the hosts were 35/3 in 13 overs before their batting imploded in the next 3.5 overs. Madhya Pradesh were bundled out courtesy a six-wicket haul by KV Sasikanth (6/18).

Madhya Pradesh’s 35 isn’t the lowest ever score in the Ranji Trophy. That dubious record belongs to Rajasthan, who were all out for 21 in the 2010/11 season against Hyderabad. Interestingly, Rajasthan won the title in the same year.

Bedi’s record broken

Bihar left-arm spinner Ashutosh Aman etched his name in record books, surpassing the great Bishan Singh Bedi’s record as the highest wicket-taker in a Ranji Trophy season after claiming his 65th scalp in Patna on Wednesday.

Bihar defeated Manipur by three wickets, while Uttarakhand sealed the lone quarterfinal spot from the Plate Group with a bonus point win over Mizoram in the Plate Group.

Saurashtra in control

Hosts Saurashtra held the upper hand after they reduced Vidarbha to 280/9 on the third day of the Group A game in Rajkot on Wednesday.

And it was Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat who led from the front grabbing six wickets conceding 56 runs at the SCA Stadium.

The hosts had posted 356 in their first innings and are still 76 runs ahead and well on course to take the crucial first innings lead.

For defending champions Vidarbha, who resumed at their overnight score of 63/2, veteran Wasim Jaffer stood out with his 98-run knock.

Jaffer, in his 225-ball stay at the crease, stuck eight fours and a six. But Saurashtra hit back at right intervals as they roared back into the game, which was drifting away due to Jaffer’s knock. After Jaffer departed, Vidarbha’s lower middle order batsman Mohit Kale (66) played a crucial knock.

Even Akshay Wakhare (22) and Suniket Bingewar (30) got starts but they failed to convert.

Vidarbha’s No 10 Aditya Thakare (3) and No 11 Yash Thakur (0) were holding fort at stumps.