All posts tagged: Ranji Trophy quarterfinals

How Kerala pair Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen repelled J&K fight to nick side into semifinals | Cricket News

How Kerala pair Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen repelled J&K fight to nick side into semifinals | Cricket News

Published by Webster

At one point, Jammu & Kashmir deployed six close-in fielders including the wicket keeper to crowd, converge on and cackle off two of Kerala’s quietest batsmen, into submission, while snapping sharp catches that brought four quick wickets. There was even a backward short leg, lingering in the batsman’s peripheral vicinity, and hissing away sweet inanities into the ears of Kerala’s flank defenders, Nos 7 and 8, Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen At 180/6, with a good part of two sessions left, Kerala were not even pretending to go for the 399 target J&K set them, clear that they would rub in the one-run first innings lead into the opponents’ faces the whole day. But defending 90 overs for a draw is an art. Nizar and Azhar did just that, to put Kerala into their second-ever Ranji semifinals. They would like nothing more than to beat Gujarat at home in Ahmedabad and take a shot at, possibly, Vidarbha. who beat them in the 2018 semis, should Mumbai be tamed at Nagpur in the other last-four encounter. …

We haven’t cracked the code of how to cross the line in the knockouts: Tamil Nadu coach Lakshmipathy Balaji | Cricket News

We haven’t cracked the code of how to cross the line in the knockouts: Tamil Nadu coach Lakshmipathy Balaji | Cricket News

Published by Webster

The writing was pretty much on the wall for Tamil Nadu. It was imprinted the moment they lost to Jharkhand and thereby booked a quarterfinals date with Vidarbha in Nagpur. And after four days, the inevitable happened on Tuesday as Vidarbha defeated Tamil Nadu by a massive 198-run margin to confirm another quarterfinal exit. As has been the story forever in Ranji Trophy knockouts, it was with the bat where they lost again on a green top in an away fixture, prolonging their red-ball title drought for another season at least. Having made the semi-finals last season, TN had the best intentions to go a step further this time, with a lot of focus put primarily on Ranji Trophy. Having remained unbeaten in the first half of the season, it was in the last two matches – when it mattered – that they came up short. And compared to previous performances on green tops, this should hurt TN, as Vidarbha’s lower-order showed better application while batting first. Coming to bat on the second afternoon, TN …

Ranji Trophy: Paras Dogra leads J&K from the front with ton as quarterfinal against Kerala on knife’s edge | Cricket News

Ranji Trophy: Paras Dogra leads J&K from the front with ton as quarterfinal against Kerala on knife’s edge | Cricket News

Published by Webster

Maybe, the Jammu & Kashmir Ranji team needed a captain who wasn’t an intimidating, authority figure. Paras Dogra had 10,000 domestic runs for his ancestral state Himachal Pradesh and as a guest player for Pondicherry. With J&K, he just shared a smattering of Dogri and Kangri dialects. But the Delhi-born 40-year-old, with a chill temperament and no particular intention of stamping his 10,000-run clout, candidly admitted to being super-fascinated by the high quality of bowlers and hitters J&K had. He was mentoring them alright when they bowled, but hadn’t been among the runs this season. He’s not prone to talking down to the juniors anyway, but his batting struggles strangely made him one of the boys. A hard-trying team with an earnestly-trying skipper, just got things to click. On Tuesday, with J&K having conceded a 1-run first innings lead (281 and 280) to Kerala , Dogra hit a sturdy century – striking 132 from 232 balls, while shepherding partnerships of 146 (261 balls) with Kanhaiya Wadhawan and 50 (65) with Sahil Lotra. J&K set Kerala …

Saurashtra batting stalwart Sheldon Jackson retires from first-class cricket after 15-year career | Cricket News

Saurashtra batting stalwart Sheldon Jackson retires from first-class cricket after 15-year career | Cricket News

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Prolific Saurashtra batter Sheldon Jackson on Tuesday retired from professional cricket after a career spanning 15 years, his last outing ending in a defeat to Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal here. Jackson, 38, retires with more than 7200 runs in 105 first-class matches with a highest score of 186, 21 hundreds and 39 half-centuries. That he ended his career with an average of over 45 speaks volumes about his consistency in first-class cricket. Story continues below this ad Jackson has been a multidimensional cricketer and besides being a reliable batsman and an excellent fielder. He also kept wickets for Saurashtra in the limited-over competitions. In the longer format, however, he was not required to do the duty thanks to Sagar Jogiyani’s presence. He scored 14 and 27 in his final two outings as Gujarat won by an innings and 98 runs. Jackson, who was once part of the Kolkata Knight Riders set-up after being spotted by former Bengal player Joydeep Mukherjee, made his debut for Saurashtra in December 2011. Story continues below this ad …

Ranji Trophy: An India call is not expected, but Jalaj Saxena continues all-round shows to keep Kerala afloat vs J&K | Cricket News

Ranji Trophy: An India call is not expected, but Jalaj Saxena continues all-round shows to keep Kerala afloat vs J&K | Cricket News

Published by Parlour News

Jalaj Saxena is 38 and he chuckles that he “doesn’t really expect the phone to ring tomorrow.” That is cricket-speak for getting picked to play for India, and the selectors calling up with the news. It’s just that instead of staring at the phone waiting eternally for it to ring, he decided to go hammer and tongs against the run of play, and keep reminding the young ‘uns that a Ranji Trophy quarterfinal is five days long. He is not filmy enough to say, ‘Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost.’ But for 78 balls, he kept punching holes in a pretty sturdy J&K bowling unit, almost teasing them for not managing to tame an old ‘un like him. His 67 had six fours and three sixes, looking utterly unbothered by cloying pace or taunting spin. “It’s an unrealistic dream (being picked for India),” but what’s left if you stop dreaming, he says. So, might as well keep putting himself out there, and reminding selectors of what they are overlooking. Story continues below this ad Saxena’s …

No IPL contract, no India A spot but J&K’s Auqib Nabi Dar is making a name for himself | Cricket News

No IPL contract, no India A spot but J&K’s Auqib Nabi Dar is making a name for himself | Cricket News

Published by Webster

Auqib Nabi Dar grew up playing tennis ball cricket in Baramulla, Kashmir, on grounds where speedsters just couldn’t use spikes. Elite cricket is high-maintenance and hallowed that way. When his feet couldn’t turn into hot wheels, the J&K pacer set off honing his wrist-work and ended up with one of the smoothest and deceptively jumbling mix of inswingers and outswingers, working his way out to snare wickets with the new ball and old. All through this self-motivated upskilling, he kept in mind what his seniors at the humble Baramulla Cricket Club told him when the cricket dream looked distant: “Work in silence. Never talk back. Show them what you are when playing, because nobody can stop you on the run-up.” With 42 wickets this season alone – almost half his career-tally of 85 – the 28-year-old has become J&aK’s highest wicket taker, surpassing Parvez Rasool, since debuting in 2016 with impressive consistency of 6 five-fors in this campaign. Story continues below this ad He has endured early injuries, limited facilities in development years, indifference from …

Ranji wrap: Spin shines for Mumbai, Ankit resists for Haryana; familiar collapse for TN | Cricket News

Ranji wrap: Spin shines for Mumbai, Ankit resists for Haryana; familiar collapse for TN | Cricket News

Published by Webster

Spinners give Mumbai an opening After two frustrating sessions, Mumbai’s spinners Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani brought them back into the contest against Haryana at the Eden Gardens. The two spinners who scored 97 and 91 respectively to rescue Mumbai with the bat, played their part with the ball as well at a critical juncture when Haryana seemed to be running away with the game. After shutting out Mumbai for 315 in the first session, skipper Ankit Kumar led from the front once again with the bat, scoring 136. The 27-year-old opener is known for his gritty knocks and on Sunday, he largely struck to it to carve out a century that deflated Mumbai attack. Though none of his teammates so far have managed to convert the starts, he fought single-handedly to push Haryana closer to Mumbai’s total and beyond. At one stage, it appeared Haryana would easily go past Mumbai’s total but Kotian and Mulani struck crucial blows to take two wickets each. It meant at the end of Day 2, Haryana were placed …

Son of fisherman, Kerala’s MD Nidheesh grabs a five-for to rattle Jammu & Kashmir in Ranji Trophy quarter final | Cricket News

Son of fisherman, Kerala’s MD Nidheesh grabs a five-for to rattle Jammu & Kashmir in Ranji Trophy quarter final | Cricket News

Published by Webster

It’s unclear why Jammu & Kashmir chose Pune’s misty MCA stadium as their preferred venue for the Ranji quarterfinals. But Mattakandathil Dineshan (MD) Nidheesh knew his ears pricked up when he heard Kerala would travel away from the usually preferred flat wickets or turners, aiming for the semifinal. Nidheesh, the right-arm outswing specialist conjuring wicked angles, knew he was On. His time to strike, was now. MCA’s serene field and spicy pitch have plenty of fans in both Ranji teams, notably their quicks. “This was like heaven for us!” Nidheesh would say after his 5-for 56 from 23 overs, regularly stubbed out flickers that J&K batsmen lit, while reaching 228/8 in 85 overs on Day 1. Story continues below this ad It wasn’t just the 5 wickets and the fact that he put in 27 percent of the overs Kerala bowled, maintaining impressive stump-to-stump discipline with variations thrown in when least expected. It was the fact that he removed four dangerous J&K batsmen, right when they were threatening to let loose. Seasoned opener Shubham Khajuria …

Ranji Trophy: Rematch of epic 1991 final in Haryana vs Mumbai, while J&K look to extend dream run | Cricket News

Ranji Trophy: Rematch of epic 1991 final in Haryana vs Mumbai, while J&K look to extend dream run | Cricket News

Published by Webster

The quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy get underway on Saturday with two of fixtures happening in neutral venues because of weather and logistical reasons. While Tamil Nadu take on Vidarbha in Nagpur, here is a look at the three other quarterfinals. Haryana vs Mumbai at Eden Gardens, 9 AM The contest was supposed to take place in Lahli, but the BCCI chose to shift it to Kolkata at the 11th hour as it is better prepared to handle the DRS technology. Since playing their epic final in 1991 which Haryana won by 2 runs, the two sides have faced in a knockout only once, with Mumbai winning the quarterfinals in 2009 by first innings lead. At Eden, which usually rolls out pitches that help quicks, it appears Mumbai has a definite edge because of the presence of star power and also their ability to come good in knockouts. With Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Ajinkya Rahane all part of the side, if Mumbai can survive Haryana’s all-round attack then they can smell of another semifinal appearance. …

Ranji Trophy: Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube confirm their availability for Mumbai’s quarterfinal match | Cricket News

Ranji Trophy: Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube confirm their availability for Mumbai’s quarterfinal match | Cricket News

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India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Shivam Dube have informed Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that they will be available for the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Haryana at Lahli. Mumbai finished second with 29 points after Jammu and Kashmir, which defeated Baroda in the last round, emerged as Group A leader with 35 points. Though Yadav has been going through a series of low scores in the ongoing T20Is against England with scores of 0, 14, 12, 0, his presence will be a big boost for the Mumbai side. “Yadav and Dube have informed us that they are available for the quarter-finals. The selection committee will meet soon and pick a squad for the same,” a source in the MCA confirmed. Story continues below this ad Dube played Mumbai’s league match against J&K, where he gathered a pair. But at the end of the match earned a call back to India’s T20I side where he scored a fifty on return at Pune. Yadav did play one Ranji Trophy game for Mumbai this season but has …