Jharkhand's Batting Masterclass Overwhelms Uttar Pradesh in Ranji Trophy Clash
In a commanding display of batting prowess, Jharkhand posted a massive total of 561 for 6 in 151.5 overs before declaring their innings in the final session of day two in the Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh at Lucknow on Friday. The home team, Uttar Pradesh, faced a daunting task as they ended the day at a precarious 32 for 3, trailing by a staggering 529 runs, with their top order collapsing within just eight overs.
Century and Half-Centuries Propel Jharkhand to Huge Total
Kumar Kushagra was the standout performer for Jharkhand, smashing a brilliant century of 102 runs off 143 balls, which included 13 boundaries. His aggressive batting set the tone for the team's imposing score. Supporting him were key contributions from Robin Minz, who scored a quickfire 62 off 66 balls with two boundaries and four towering sixes, and skipper Virat Singh, who added a solid 50 runs off 81 balls with six boundaries.
Overnight, Jharkhand had resumed at 279 for 1, with Sharandeep Singh at 128 and Aryaman Sen at 64. However, the duo could only add 11 runs each before falling early on day two. Sharandeep scored 139 off 286 balls with 16 boundaries before being dismissed by Shivam Mavi. After his departure, Kumar Kushagra joined Aryaman Sen, but Uttar Pradesh pacer Kunal Tyagi soon cleaned up Sen for 75 runs off 179 balls, leaving Jharkhand at 303 for 3 in 100.2 overs.
Partnerships and Declarations Shape the Innings
Following Sen's dismissal, skipper Virat Singh and Kumar Kushagra forged a crucial partnership of 111 runs off 167 balls for the fourth wicket, taking the score to 414 for 4 in 128.1 overs before Virat was dismissed by Kunal Tyagi. Robin Minz then teamed up with Kushagra, adding 70 runs off 78 balls for the fifth wicket. After Kushagra's century, Minz and Anukul Roy put on a solid partnership of 77 runs off 64 balls, with Anukul contributing 43 runs off 36 balls before falling to Shivam Sharma, prompting Jharkhand to declare at 561 for 6.
Reflecting on the team's strategy, Kumar Kushagra said, "We were just trying to score something around 600. But then we had to declare because we needed that six points. We had to get them out as soon as possible so we can just let them play the follow on. So, it was according to the plan." He added, "We must win the game and get six points that we need to qualify. We have a match in Jamshedpur and I am confident that we will get points over there and qualify."
Uttar Pradesh's Struggles and Injury Substitution
In response, Uttar Pradesh's top order crumbled under pressure, with Madhav Kaushik (2), skipper Aryan Juyal (4), and Aaditya Sharma (2) falling early within eight overs. Opener Abhishek Goswami (14) and Shivam Sharma (8) managed to see off three overs by spinners before bad light halted play, leaving UP at 32 for 3 and facing a tough challenge to avoid the follow-on.
The Uttar Pradesh bowlers were largely ineffective, but Shivam Sharma, who came in as a 'serious injury substitute' for the injured Prashant Veer, made some impact by claiming two wickets. This marked the first application of the newly introduced 'serious injury replacement' rule in the Ranji Trophy. Prashant Veer suffered a shoulder injury while fielding on Thursday, with scans revealing a Grade 2 tear that will sideline him for three weeks. Shivam Sharma was allowed as a 'like to like' replacement, adding a new dimension to the match dynamics.
As the match progresses, Uttar Pradesh will need a monumental effort to recover from their early setbacks, while Jharkhand aims to secure a decisive victory and crucial points in their Ranji Trophy campaign.
