Karan Lamba hits century on Ranji return as Rajasthan take charge against Tamil Nadu
Karan Lamba returned to Ranji Trophy action and scored an unbeaten 103 to give Rajasthan the upper hand against Tamil Nadu at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday in an Elite Group-D match. Rajasthan were in control after the first day, with Rohan Rajbhar also contributing a big score and Sumit Godara adding valuable runs.
Lamba’s century came on his first Ranji appearance in two years, while debutant Rohan Rajbhar fell five runs short of a hundred with 95. Sumit Godara, brought into the XI after Mukul Choudhary suffered an injury during the pre-match warm-up, made 49 as Rajasthan reached 286 for four during the innings. Tamil Nadu seamer P. Saravana Kumar finished with three for 52.
Lamba remained not out on 103 from 135 balls, hitting 11 fours and one six; his innings included three successive boundaries off debutant D. Deepesh — a square drive, a pull to long-on and a cut — and he lofted Sai Kishore over long-off for six to bring up his fifty off 45 balls. He completed his century off 133 deliveries with a back-foot square drive for four against Saravana Kumar.
Rohan Rajbhar faced 220 balls, struck 13 fours and one six before gloving Saravana Kumar to the keeper for 95; he had been dropped on 80 when Sai Sudharsan put down an edge at first slip off medium-pacer Nidhish Rajagopal. During his innings he stepped out to loft Sai Kishore for six, drove him for four two balls later and used the sweep for a boundary off the left-arm spinner. Rohan shared stands of 104 for the second wicket with Sumit and 125 for the third with Karan.
Saravana Kumar, playing only his third Ranji match at 37, returned his best figures of three for 52. Tamil Nadu suffered a setback when all-rounder Sonu Yadav hobbled off after going down at backward point while attempting to stop a cut from Mahipal Lomror.
Rajasthan - 1st innings: Sachin Yadav lbw b Saravana Kumar 1, Rohan Rajbhar c Jagadeesan b Saravana Kumar 95, Sumit Godara c Jagadeesan b Saravana Kumar 49, Karan Lamba (not out) 103, Kartik Sharma c Deepesh b Washington 1, Mahipal Lomror (not out) 31; Extras (lb-1, w-5): 6; Total (for four wkts. in 85 overs): 289. Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-105, 3-230, 4-231.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Deepesh 13-3-54-0, Saravana Kumar 19-4-52-3, Sonu Yadav 16-3-38-0, Sai Kishore 12-0-57-0, Nidhish Rajagopal 9-2-35-0, Washington Sundar 16-2-49-1.
The match formed part of the Elite Group-D stage of the Ranji Trophy, with Rajasthan finishing the opening day in a commanding position against Tamil Nadu.
