Ranji Trophy: Himachal humble Services, bag bonus point

New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh bowlers backed their batsmen's efforts to humble Services by an innings and 29 runs and bag a bonus point in the Group C Ranji Trophy cricket match, here on Wednesday.

After posting a mammoth 479 in their only innings in the four-day encounter, Himachal shot Services out twice to gain vital seven points at the Palam A Ground, Model Sports Complex.Himachal pace spearhead Vikramjeet Malik, who picked up five wickets in the two innings and managed crucial 59 runs batting at No.10, was declared the man-of-the-match.

If the bowlers did their bit then the batsman made sure that the Bipul Sharma-led team had to just bat once in a lopsided affair. Opener Ankush Bains and Rashmi Praida gave Himachal a great start in response to Services first innings score of 226. But it was the lower-order that made it count the most with batsmen number eight, nine, 10 and 11 contributing 226 runs in the final onslaught.

Nikhil Gangta stood out with his resilient 99 as last man Pankaj Jaiswal also contributed with an unbeaten 41. In their second innings, Services batsmen once again failed to convert starts into big scores and could only muster 224 before being bundled early in the third session of the fourth and final day.

Himachal's Rishi Dhawan picked seven wickets in all Bipul also chipped in with four wickets (combined) with his left-arm orthodox.

Brief Scores:

Services 226 and 224 in 97.2 overs (Rajat Paliwal 43, Yashpal Singh 36; Rishi Dhawan 4-70).

Himachal Pradesh 479 (Nikhil Gangta 99, Ankkush Bains, Vikramjeet Malik 59; Abhishek Sakuja 4-91).

Points: Himachal Pradesh 7 Services 0.