Rohtak, Jan 11: Rajasthan found themselves in control on Day 2 of their semifinal encounter against hosts Haryana. After 18 wickets fell on Day 1, Rajasthan managed to bowl Haryana out for 97 in the latter’s first innings, post a second-innings score of 192 and then reduce their opponents to 15 for two on another rivetting day of Ranji Trophy cricket.

Haryana resumed Day 2 at 82 for eight, trailing Rajasthan’s first-innings score by seven runs with two wickets in hand. Rajasthan pacer Rituraj Singh, who took a five-wicket haul yesterday to keep the visitors in the game, wrapped up the hosts’ last two wickets; the bowler finished with career-best first-class figures of seven for 45 in 18.5 overs. However, Singh’s efforts couldn’t prevent the hosts from securing a first-innings lead of eight runs.

Rajasthan then began their second innings looking far more comfortable with the wicket on offer at the Bansi Lal cricket stadium. Although former India players Aakash Chopra (8) and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (7) fell without making substantial contributions, opener Vineet Saxena (58) and Robin Bist (44) played important knocks in the context of the game to give Rajasthan control of proceedings. The visitors, accordingly, went to tea at 149 for four in 52 overs.

However, Rajasthan suffered a collapse in the final session to provide an interesting twist to this match. After Rashmi Parida (23) was trapped lbw by Amit Mishra in the 61st over, the visitors spiralled from a score of 174 for four to 192 all out in the space of eight overs. Medium-pacer Sachin Rana, with figures of four for 26 from 14.3 overs, was instrumental in orchestrating Rajasthan’s collapse. Amit Mishra and Harshal Patel took two wickets each while Mohit Sharma finished with figures of one for 42 in 14.2 overs

Chasing a target of 185, Haryana lost Rahul Dewan (0) and Sunny Singh (1) within the first three overs of the fourth innings. The hosts eventually finished the day at 15 for the loss of those two wickets. Nitin Saini (9*) and nightwatchman Harshal Patel (1) will have a big say in Haryana’s fortunes when play resumes on Day 3.

Scorecard