Ranji trophy: Meghalaya vs Sikkim tie ends draw

Staff Correspondent

Shillong: Meghalaya recorded the sixth highest Ranji Trophy score in their plate group match against Sikkim in Bhubaneshwar on New Year’s Day, finally declaring on an incredible 826/7 after batting 171.4 overs.

However, waiting until Gurinder Singh reach his century (101 not out) ate up time that could have been used in trying to bowl out Sikkim and the match ended in a draw today.

“I’m unhappy at the decision to prolong declaration of the first innings on the third day, which led to a draw, thus depriving us of valuable points,” the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s Honorary Secretary Naba Bhattacharjee said. “Individual glory is great but not above greater interest of team Meghalaya,” he added.

Sikkim had made 219 all out in their first innings. By the end of the second day of the match Meghalaya had amassed 555/3, with Punit Bisht having hit a triple century.

Bisht would eventually be dismissed yesterday for 343 and he thus became the eighth highest scorer in the Ranji Trophy.

Apart from Bisht, there were also centuries for Raj Biswa (175), Yogesh Nagar (148) and Gurinder in Meghalaya’s massive innings, which was declared before tea yesterday.

Sikkim’s batsmen offered much stronger resistance in their second innings and lost only four wickets in their innings of 304 before close of play on the final day today.

Gurinder took 3/84, while Aditya Singhania bagged 1/31. With a first innings lead, Meghalaya earned three points, while Sikkim took one.

Meghalaya thus end their first season of the Ranji Trophy with four wins, two draws and two defeats.

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