Ranji Trophy: Maharashtra take slender lead against Rajasthan

Pune: Riding on useful fifties by Chirag Khurana and Shrikant Mundhe, Maharashtra on Wednesday managed to eke out a slender but crucial four-runs first-innings lead in their Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match here against Rajasthan here.

In reply to Rajasthan's first-innings total of 270 all out, hosts Maharashtra had reached 274 for nine by the end of second day's play at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

When the stumps were drawn, Khurana was batting on 82 alongside Samad Fallah (2).

Starting the day on 249/7, Rajasthan lost centurion Puneet Yadav (127) after he added 14 runs to their overnight score. The visitors could not do much after Yadav's dismissal and were bowled out in 98.1 overs.

Samad Fallah was the best bowler for Maharashtra, returning impressive figures of 4/49, and he was supported by Anupam Sanklecha (2/58).

In reply, Maharashtra's top-order batsmen got the starts but could not make it big. Rohit Motwani got out after making a sedate 89-ball 43 with the help of seven fours.

It was finally left to the duo of Khurana and Mundhe to bail them out of trouble with a partnership of 130 runs for the seventh wicket.

While Khurana struck nine fours and a six in his 121-ball knock, Mundhe's 60-run knock, which came off 88 balls, contained seven fours and a six.

For Rajasthan, Pankaj Singh and Deepak Chahar picked up three wickets each.