Ranji Trophy: Punjab gains more from drawn match with Hyderabad

Punjab and Hyderabad played out a draw in their Ranji Trophy fixture at the Gymkhana Ground on Thursday, with Punjab taking three points to Hyderabad’s one. Punjab opener Vihaan Malhotra scored a half-century on the final day and had earlier taken four wickets in six overs.

The match simmered across nearly four days without producing a result, with Punjab adding 183 runs for the loss of six wickets on Thursday before declaring at 240 for six. Uday Saharan’s unbeaten 55 in the second innings prompted the declaration, leaving Punjab with a 291-run lead and both teams to settle for a draw.

Harnoor Singh was the first wicket to fall on the final day. After ten overs of dots and singles, Prabhsimran Singh attacked Ruthik Yadav, hitting a six and two fours, while Vihaan Malhotra reached his fifty with a six and a four before C.V. Milind removed him. Prabhsimran reached his fifty off 63 balls but was dismissed attempting a reverse sweep; Jashanpreet Singh and Salil Arora fell on either side of lunch and Emanjot Singh followed a few overs later.

Two earlier phases of play had swung the contest in Punjab’s favour: on day two Salil Arora and Umesh Yadav added a 116-run stand to lift Punjab from 315 for nine to 431. On day three Vihaan Malhotra’s four wickets in six overs helped bowl Hyderabad out for 380.

“We wanted to try something different. Vihaan bowls a little slower. We were expecting him to bowl with some turn but he bowled straight and got wickets,” Punjab captain Uday explained.

Punjab — 1st innings: 431. Hyderabad — 1st innings: 380. Punjab — 2nd innings: Vihaan Malhotra b Milind 53, Harnoor Singh c Pragnay b Rakshann 28, Prabhsimran Singh c Himateja b Tanay 68, Uday Saharan (not out) 55, Jashanpreet Singh b Rakshann 4, Salil Arora c Pragnay b Aniketh 0, Emanjot Singh c Tanmay b Tanay 14, Harjas Singh (not out) 7; Extras (b-6, lb-2, nb-2, w-1): 11; Total (for six wkts. decl. in 78 overs): 240. Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-123, 3-166, 4-172, 5-174, 6-209. Hyderabad bowling: Milind 7-1-22-1, Ruthik 15-0-55-0, Tanay 23-3-51-2, Rakshann 11-3-16-2, Aniketh 16-2-76-1, Varun 6-1-12-0.

Hyderabad now turns its attention to a bonus date at home with Chhattisgarh, while Punjab will host Andhra.