The last match in the plate group for Ranji Trophy between Puducherry and Nagaland being played at Naglaand Cricket Stadium, Sovima, saw rain of runs from the Nagaland batsmen. Having won the toss Nagaland chose to bat first and were 35 for three with both the openers back in the pavilion. However, the worst for Puducherry started thereafter with a fourth wicket partnership of 250 runs between Nitesh and Zhimomi. Nitesh scored a patient 100 off 150 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. His partner Zhimomi scored a breezy 177 off 231 balls with 13 fours and 5 sixes. Nagaland ended day one at 387 for 5 with Zhimomi unbeaten on 150 and Jonathan on 50 not out. For Puducherry, the veteran pacer Pankaj Singh took 3 wickets.
When the day changes, the scene too
Resuming with a score of 387 for 5 on, Nagaland found a new attack from Puducherry and started losing wickets. When Jonathan, who scored an easy 123 off 165 balls with 10 fours and 4 sixes, the rest added only 76 runs and Nagaland was all out for 467 off 106.3 overs. For Puducherry Pankaj Singh finished with 3 for 118 runs, Raipi Vincent Gomez 3 for 50 off 20.3 overs and while Fabid Ahmed returned with 2 for 124 off 26 overs, skipper Rohit returned with 2 for 79 off 16 overs.
Though not a smooth start, the proceedings were confident and smooth
In reply to the Nagaland total of 467, Puducherry started rather shakily with one of the openers veteran Thalaivan Sargunam dismissed for 16 and the most important of all skipper Rohit also back in the pavilion for 3, the other opener Karthik, who scored a patient knock of 81 runs off 173 balls with 10 fours, was solid enough and developed a partnership of 176 runs for the third wicket in the company of Paras Dogra. At the end of day two, Puducherry was 224 for 3, still 243 runs behind Nagaland, with Paras Dogra on 109 and M.Viknesh 10 at the crease.
Timely ton of Paras Dogra
When Puducherry needed the most after the fall of Thalaivan Sargunam and Rohit, Paras Dogra proved his mettle by playing a well-crafted timely knock of 109 not out off 159 balls to pave way for a possible first innings lead against Nagaland.
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