On a thrilling second day of the ongoing 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, Mohammed Shami marked his return to competitive cricket with a match-winning performance for Bengal, while Goa’s openers, Snehal Kauthankar and Kashyap Bakle, etched their names in the record books with extraordinary triple centuries. Elsewhere, the action unfolded with impressive individual and team performances across various encounters.
Shami Leads Bengal Fightback Against Madhya Pradesh
Mohammed Shami, in his first appearance of the season, proved his worth with the ball as Bengal fought back in their match against Madhya Pradesh in Indore. The seasoned pacer claimed 4 wickets for 54 runs, triggering a collapse that saw MP slip from a comfortable 106/1 to 167 all out. Shami’s brilliance, including a vital spell in the second session, handed Bengal a 61-run lead in the first innings.
With the upper hand, Bengal consolidated their position, reaching 170/5 in their second innings at stumps, still holding a significant advantage over Madhya Pradesh.
Goa’s Batting Brilliance: Kauthankar and Bakle Score Triple Centuries
In an absolutely dominant display of batting, Goa hammered Arunachal Pradesh into submission with an innings and 551-run victory. Snehal Kauthankar (314*) and Kashyap Bakle (300*) created history by scoring back-to-back triple centuries in the same innings. The pair shared a record-breaking, unbeaten 606-run partnership for the third wicket, which helped Goa amass an imposing total of 693 before declaring.
Goa’s bowlers, led by Lakshay Garg (4-43), then ripped through the Arunachal Pradesh batting lineup in their second innings, dismissing them for just 92 in 22.3 overs. Goa’s crushing victory left their opponents reeling and highlighted a perfect day for the team.
Shahrukh Khan Stars in Tamil Nadu’s Strong Position
In Ahmedabad, Tamil Nadu’s Shahrukh Khan (86) made an impact at the top of the order, helping his side establish a firm position against Railways. Along with key contributions from skipper Narayan Jagadeesan (56) and Andre Siddarth (78), Tamil Nadu posted a challenging total. Despite several starts from Railways’ batsmen, Tamil Nadu’s strong batting put them on course for a hefty first innings lead.
Maharashtra Edge Ahead in Cuttack
In a tightly contested battle between Odisha and Maharashtra in Cuttack, the bowlers had the upper hand on Day 2. Odisha, led by Swastik Samal’s 118, managed to scrape together a total of 38 in their first innings before losing eight wickets for 73 runs. Maharashtra made sure to erase the deficit and ended the day at 78/3, holding a slender 40-run lead over Odisha.
Karnataka’s Shrijith Fires in Lucknow
Krishnan Shrijith (110) played a standout knock for Karnataka, guiding his side to a strong first-innings lead over Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow. Shrijith was well supported by lower-order contributions from Yashovardhan Parantap (55) and Vidyadhar Patil (38), with the last four wickets adding 134 runs. Karnataka took a commanding 186-run lead. Uttar Pradesh, however, fought back well in their second innings, reaching 78/1 at the stumps.
Saurashtra Continues to Dominate Chandigarh
Saurashtra maintained their dominant position in Chandigarh, where they posted a mammoth 531/9 declared, led by Chirag Jani’s near double century (198). Sheldon Jackson (69), Arpit Vasavada (58), and Prerak Mankad (53) made significant contributions as well. Chandigarh, struggling to cope with the pressure, was reduced to 78/5 by Saurashtra’s bowlers by the close of play.
Mumbai Scraps for Lead Against Services
In a closely fought encounter between Services and Mumbai in Delhi, Mumbai’s Ayush Mhatre (116) and Shreyas Iyer (47) counterattacked to give their side a slender first-innings lead. Despite Services’ bowlers, Pulkit Narang and Arjun Sharma, taking regular wickets, Mhatre’s patient knock helped Mumbai take the advantage heading into Day 3.
Baroda Crush Meghalaya by an Innings
Baroda bowled out Meghalaya for just 92 runs in the second innings to secure a dominant victory by an innings and 261 runs. Ninad Rathva (6-28) and Mahesh Pithiya (3-46) were the architects of the demolition, as Baroda’s earlier declaration at 442, led by centuries from Shashwat Rawat (121) and Jyotsnil Singh (121), set up the massive win.
Jharkhand’s Kushagra Holds Firm Against Delhi
In the match between Delhi and Jharkhand, Kumar Kushagra (133*) played a vital knock to keep Jharkhand in the game. Despite Jharkhand losing wickets at regular intervals, Kushagra’s unbeaten century helped them reach 356/9 at stumps. Delhi’s bowlers were on top, but Kushagra’s defiance meant the match remained evenly poised.
Vidarbha Fight Back Against Gujarat
Vidarbha responded strongly to Gujarat’s total of 343, with Karun Nair (81*) and Danish Malewar (76*) leading the charge. At the end of Day 2, Vidarbha were in a strong position at 202/2, still 141 runs behind Gujarat’s total but with eight wickets in hand, looking well-placed to challenge for a lead.
