After the Mumbai-Maharashtra game concluded in an entertaining stalemate on Friday, Saurashtra and Andhra Pradesh qualified from Group B to the knock-out stage of the Ranji Trophy, despite losing to Tamil Nadu in their final round match.The first two teams advanced to the quarterfinals despite Saurashtra, Andhra, and Maharashtra being tied on 26 points after the league phase’s seven rounds.Maharashtra was unsuccessful since it received no bonus points.
Andhra defeated Assam by an innings to earn a bonus point that helped them surpass Maharashtra. Andhra had 19 points prior to the final round match against Assam.
Mumbai, which was still alive but needed to win or take the lead after the first innings to earn three points and go to round 26 of the competition, but only able to collect one after tying Maharashtra on the first innings total of 374.
Tamil Nadu defeated Saurashtra by 59 runs thanks to a six-wicket performance from left-arm spinner S Ajith Ram in Chennai.
The visiting team needed 266 runs to win, but was bowled out for 206 in 68.2 overs, despite Harvik Desai’s epic innings of 101 (205 balls, 10 fours, and 3 sixes).
After resuming at 4 for 1 overnight, Saurashtra fell to 18 for 4 in the 12th over, with night watchman Chetan Sakariya (1) and Sheldon Jackson being killed by Ram (1).
Chirag Jani was taken out by M Siddharth, another left-arm spinner (13).
Desai and the seasoned Arpit Vasavada (45) frustrated the home team’s bowling attack by putting together an 89-run fifth wicket partnership.
The two batters, Desai and Vasavada, decided to exercise caution due to the pitch’s potential for turn and some deliveries keeping low. Desai took advantage of the TN bowlers’ errors in line and length and scored.
The partnership was broken by Siddharth bowling Vasavada.
