Ranji Trophy: Rajasthan skipper Ashok Menaria unbeaten ton in drawn game; Maharashtra take 3 points

Japiur: Rajasthan captain Ashok Menaria struck an unbeaten century to thwart Maharashtra's hopes of securing an outright win in their Ranji Trophy cricket match here on Sunday.

Menaria (150 not out) was helped by his team-mates Rajat Bhatia (64) and Dishant Yagnik (58 not out) in Rajasthan's effort to draw the Group B match and at least secure one point out of the tie at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Maharashtra got three points on the basis of their 91-run first innings lead.

Rajasthan, who began the day precariously placed on 115 for 3, were driven by a 127-run fourth-wicket stand between Menaria and Bhatia.

Menaria, who made 84 in the first innings, completed his first century of the season as Rajasthan declared their second innings at 334 for 5. He hit 12 fours and two sixes in his 304-ball unbeaten knock.

Bhatia, making his Rajasthan debut, finished with scores of 59 and 64 in two innings.

With the game all but secured, Menaria found support from Yagnik as the two shared an unbroken 149-run stand to puncture Maharashtra's hopes.

Set a target of 244 for a win, the visitors' chase was merely a formality. They scored 17 without loss when the match ended in a draw.

Brief Scores:

Maharashtra 409 (Rahul Tripathi 119, Chirag Khurana 77; Ankush Bikram Singh 4/87, Chahar 3/94) and 17 for 0 drew with Rajasthan 318 (Ashok Menaria 84, Rajat Bhatia 59; Samad Fallah 3/77, Shrikant Mundhe 3/94) and 334 for 5 dec (Ashok Menaria 150 not out, Bhatia 64; Mundhe 2/51).