In the inaugural match of the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament, Maharashtra showcased their prowess against Manipur, with bowlers Hitesh Walunj (5-33) and Pradeep Dadhe (4-35) restricting Manipur to a mere 137 runs. Maharashtra, in response, secured a commanding position at 123 for three on the first day.
Played at Solapur’s Indira Gandhi Stadium, Manipur’s decision to bat first backfired as Maharashtra’s bowlers delivered an impressive performance. Priyojit K top-scored with 45 runs, but Manipur’s innings concluded in 54.1 overs. P. Prafulla Mani (33) and B. Rahman (19) made notable contributions.
Hitesh Walunj’s five-wicket haul, coupled with P. C. Dadhe’s four-wicket display, underscored Maharashtra’s dominance in the match.
After the first day, Maharashtra reached 123 runs in 32.3 overs, needing only 14 runs to secure the lead in the first innings. Early dismissals of Omkar Khatpe (10) and N. S. Shaikh (5) were overcome by Siddesh Veer’s impressive 58 off 102 balls, supported by skipper Kedar Jadhav’s unbeaten 49, featuring two sixes and five fours.
From Manipur’s bowling effort, Viswarjit claimed two wickets for 41 runs, while Kishan Singha secured one wicket for 38 runs.
In modern cricket, focusing on aggressive batting strategies is crucial for maintaining audience interest in longer-format matches.
