Ranji Trophy: Sarfaraz's double century, two wickets for Shami, and Gill flops on Day 2

New Delhi [India], January 23 (ANI): The second day of the Ranji Trophy fixtures delivered high-quality action across several venues, including memorable double centuries from Sarfaraz Khan and Sudip Chatterjee. Day two also saw speedsters Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep picking up wickets. Still, the biggest concern was India Test captain Shubman Gill, who had a dismal outing against Saurashtra on Friday.
During the Elite Group C match between Bengal and Services, Bengal batter Sudip Chatterjee struck a double century against Services at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani, West Bengal.
The left-handed batter scored his maiden First-Class double century off 315 deliveries. Eventually, the southpaw was dismissed for 209 off 327 deliveries, including 18 fours and one six. Sudip's knock helped Bengal post 519 in their first innings.
Apart from him, captain Abhimanyu Easwaran (81 off 152 balls, including 10 boundaries) and wicketkeeper-batter Shakir Habib Gandhi (91* off 151 balls with 10 fours) played crucial knocks. In response, Services reached 126/8 at Stumps on Day 2 in their first innings. Bengal speedsters Mohammed Shami (2/27) and Akash Deep (3/31) were among the wicket-takers.
Coming to the Maharashtra vs Goa, Elite Group B match in Pune, Goa were bundled out for 209 after captain Snehal Kauthankar top-scored with 73 off 130 deliveries, including six fours and two sixes.
In response, Maharshtra's Ruturaj Gaikwad (66 off 111 deliveries, including six fours) and Saurabh Nawale's unbeaten 95 runs off 162 deliveries, with the help of 13 fours, helped their side to reach 306/8 in their first innings, having a 97-run lead at stumps on Day 2.
During the Hyderabad vs Mumbai Elite Group D match in Hyderabad, Mumbai batter Sarfaraz Khan slammed a memorable double century in the first innings, helping his side post a massive first-innings total of 560. Sarfaraz hammered 227 runs off 219 balls, with the help of 19 fours and nine sixes.
Sarfaraz also joined the elite list of players scoring First-Class 200, List A 150, and a T20 hundred in the same season.
Captain Siddhesh Lad scored 104 runs off 179 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes. At stumps on Day 2, Hyderabad reached 138/2 and are trailing by 422 in their first innings. Gahlaut Rahul Singh (82 off 129 balls, including 11 fours and one six) and Kodimela Himateja (40 off 84 balls, including six fours) were unbeaten at the crease.
Coming to the Uttar Pradesh vs Jharkhand, Elite Group A game in Lucknow, Jharkhand declared their first innings score at 561/6 after two hundreds and four fifties from their top six batters.
Shikhar Mohan (78), Sharandeep Singh (139), Aryaman Sen (75), wicketkeeper-batter (102), captain Virat Singh (50), Robin Minz (62*), and Anukul Roy (43) played fantastic knocks for Jharkhand. In response, Uttar Pradesh is struggling at 32/3 at stumps on Day 2.
Saurashtra secured a massive 194-run win over Punjab in their Elite Group B match in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season on Friday. India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, who was playing for Punjab, had forgetfull outing in both innings.
Coming to the match, Saurashtra were bundled out for 172 in 47.1 overs. Jay Gohil played a fighting knock of 82 runs off 117 deliveries, including nine fours and three sixes. With the ball, Harpreet Brar took a fantastic six-wicket haul (6/38) for Punjab.
In their first innings, Punjab were all out for just 139 runs, and they conceded 33 runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Prabhsimran Singh scored 44 off 60 deliveries, including seven fours. Captain Shubman Gill scored a two-ball duck.
For Saurashtra, Ravindra Jadeja (2/48) and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (2/36) scalped two wickets apiece. Parth Bhut took a brilliant five-wicket haul (5/33).
In the second innings, Saurashtra made 286 and set up a target of 319 against Punjab. Ravindra Jadeja (46), Prerak Mankad (56), Hetvik Kotak (39), and Parth Bhut (37*) played crucial knocks.
With the ball, Harpreet Brar scalped wickets (5/104), Prerit Dutta (2/86), and Jassinder Singh (3/84) were among the wicket takers for Punjab.
While chasing a competitive target, Punjab were bundled out for just 125 runs and lost the one-sided contest by a massive margin. Gill once again failed with the bat, scoring just 14 runs off 32 balls, including one four.
Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (5/55) and Parth Bhut (5/8) produced match-winning spells in Saurashtra's 194-run victory. (ANI)