Ranji Trophy 2018-19, Plate, Round 6, Day 3: Nagaland fighting to salvage a draw against Uttarkhand

A vastly improved performance with the bat has seen Nagaland within a real chance of managing to secure a draw and thus salvage a point against Uttarakhand

A vastly improved performance with the bat has seen Nagaland within a real chance of managing to secure a draw and thus salvage a point against Uttarakhand in their Ranji Trophy 2018-19, Plate, Round 6 fixture.

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At the close of play on Day 3, captain Rongsen Jonathan (23*) and Abrar Kazi (7*) had taken Nagaland to 182/4, still trailing Uttarakhand’s massive first innings total of 557 by 168 runs.

Vineet Saxena was looking all set to score a double-hundred but fell short by 15 runs after being given lbw off Kazi earlier in the day’s play. The hosts had added four runs to their overnight total of 371 when Saurabh Rawat departed.

But handy contributions from the lower order ensured Uttarakhand continued their march towards a big total. After Rawat’s dismissal, Saxena and Rajat Bhatia added 64 runs before the latter fell for 32 off 36.

Saxena soon followed Bhatia to the dressing room before Mayank Mishra (58), Malolan Rangarajan (29) and Deepak Dhapola (27*) took the past the 550-run mark, handing Uttarakhand a big 350-run lead.

Nagaland’s second essay began on a negative note as they lost two wickets inside 13 overs. Opener Sedezhalie Rupero struck a partnership with KB Pawan to stabilise the innings, taking the score to 143 before being dismissed for 85.

Pawan was out soon, missing out on a fifty by four runs before Jonathan and Kazi ensured no further damage.

While not impossible, Nagaland face a tough ask to salvage a point.

Brief Score: Nagaland 207 and 182/4 (Sedezhalie Rupero 85; Malolan Rangarajan 2/60) trail Uttarakhand 557 (Vineet Saxena 185, Vaibhav Singh 101; Abrar Kazi 3/124) by 168 runs