Ranji Trophy: Varun Khanna's 8/97 Helps Punjab Achieve Emphatic Win Over Railways

Left-arm spinner Varun Khanna registered his best first-class bowling figures to guide Punjab to an emphatic innings victory over Railways in their opening Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match in Mohali on Sunday. (Latest Cricket News)

     

Following on, Railways' second innings folded for 282 runs in 68 overs with Varun (8/97) scalping as many as eight wickets of the visitors.

     

Railways started the day at 125 for five, with 283 runs still needed to save the innings defeat. However, they failed to make Punjab bat again as they fell one run short with Varun, who took all five wickets in the visitors' second innings yesterday, doing the bulk of the damage.

     

Arindam Ghosh waged a lone battle for Railways with an unbeaten 98 as wickets kept tumbling from the other end.

     

Besides Varun, Maninder Singh (1/69) and Yuvraj Singh (1/17) were the other wicket takers for Punjab.

     

Earlier, Punjab had declared their first innings after posting a mammoth 604 for five.

     

Gurkeerat Singh made an unbeaten 201, while wicketkeeper Gitansh Khera (102 not out), Uday Kaul (112) and Mandeep Singh (109) also posting centuries in Punjab's first innings.

     

By virtue of this win, Punjab pocketed seven points, including one bonus point from the match while Railways returned empty-handed.

     

Brief Scores: Punjab 604/5 decl in 171.1 overs, Railways: 196 & (f/o) 282 all out in 68 overs (Arindam Ghosh 98 not out; Varun Khanna 8/97).

- Goa Gain Three Points As Rain Interrupts Final Day Against Hyderabad -

Goa gained three points by virtue of their first-innings lead as the Ranji Trophy cricket match against Hyderabad ended in a draw after the umpires called off play due to rain here today.

     

The field umpires called off play after tea on the final day of the Group C match, at GCA ground. Resuming at overnight 349/5, Goa made 425/7 when the heavens opened up. Rahul Keni(17) and Shadab Jakati (0) were the batsman at the crease.   

Goa had taken a 100-run first innings lead. Hyderabad earned a point from the drawn match. The highlight was a fine century by Sagun Kamat who scored 109. Kamat struck fours and a six while facing 286 balls.