Ranji Trophy: Rinku Singh and Yash Dhull Shine in Draws

NEW DELHI: The fifth round of the Ranji Trophy concluded on Wednesday, showcasing impressive performances from several players, including Rinku Singh and Yash Dhull. Rinku Singh, an Indian T20 International star, delivered a career-best score of 176 runs, while Yash Dhull, the captain of the Under-19 World Cup-winning team, scored an outstanding 189 for Delhi. Additionally, Abid Mushtaq's remarkable seven-wicket haul was pivotal for Jammu and Kashmir's victory.

Group A Highlights
In the clash between Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh began the fourth day at 339 for 6, with Rinku Singh unbeaten on 98. They were chasing a total of 455 runs set by Tamil Nadu, who had earlier produced centuries from Baba Indrajith and C Andre Siddarth. Rinku Singh's innings of 176 came off 247 balls, featuring 17 fours and six sixes, and he was eventually dismissed as Uttar Pradesh achieved a narrow lead of five runs. Tamil Nadu managed 103 for 2 in their second innings before the match ended in a draw. Rinku Singh was awarded the Player of the Match for his exceptional performance.

Tamil Nadu's bowlers, P Vidyuth and Sai Kishore, took four and three wickets, respectively, but were unable to secure a win. Uttar Pradesh currently holds fourth place in Group A with 17 points, having won one match and drawn three.

In another match, defending champions Vidarbha triumphed over Baroda by 144 runs. Baroda was set a target of 276 runs but faltered, collapsing to 131 all out. Darshan Nalkande was the standout bowler for Vidarbha, claiming five wickets for just 12 runs. Vidarbha remains unbeaten, leading Group A with 25 points.

Group C Summary
The encounter between Bengal and Assam ended in a draw. Bengal had set a formidable first innings total of 442 runs, with Shahbaz Ahmed scoring a century. Assam, starting the final day at 98 for 3, managed to reach 282 for 9, thanks to half-centuries from Denish Das and skipper Sumit Ghadigaonkar. Shahbaz received the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance, contributing both with the bat and ball.

Group D Results
In the match between Mumbai and Puducherry, Siddesh Lad was the star, scoring 170 runs as Mumbai secured victory by an innings and 222 runs. Despite Puducherry's efforts, they were bowled out for 132 in their first innings and later for 276, following a strong performance from Mumbai's bowlers.

Jammu and Kashmir achieved a notable win against Hyderabad, with Abdul Samad scoring 125 runs and Abid Mushtaq taking seven wickets. This impressive performance saw Jammu and Kashmir winning by 281 runs, placing them second in their group.

In a thrilling contest, Yash Dhull's 189 runs for Delhi were crucial as they faced Rajasthan. Delhi had initially struggled, falling to 55 for 3, but Dhull's partnership with Ayush Doseja salvaged the innings, ending the match in a draw.

Rajasthan had earlier declared their first innings at 570, bolstered by centuries from four players, including Sachin Yadav, Kunal Singh Rathore, Mahipal Lomror, and Kartik Sharma. Delhi's inability to secure a win leaves them in a challenging position in the group standings.

Overall, the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy highlighted the skills of both emerging talents and established players, setting the stage for exciting future encounters in the tournament.