Ranji Trophy: Vikas, Navneet ensure a draw for Services

Bengal enlivened the proceedings by declaring its second innings after 11 overs in the morning, and set a target of 355 for Services. But defiant knocks by Vikas Hathwala and Navneet Singh secured a draw for the latter.

Representative image.

A defiant half century by Vikas Hathwala and a patient 49 by Navneet Singh ensured a draw for Services against Bengal in the Ranji Trophy game at the Palam ground here on Monday. Bengal enlivened the proceedings by declaring its second innings after 11 overs in the morning, and set a target of 355 for Services. With a first innings lead of 193, Bengal could afford to close its innings at 161 for five, after having resumed at 77. Bengal almost achieved its mission, but the centurion of the first innings, Navneet Singh, stood the test once again, with a 128-ball knock. Mohammed Shami bowled opener and Services skipper Nakul Verma for 15, but Navneet and Ravi Chauhan stabilised the Services innings. Later, Vikas Pathwala smashed 64 off 71 balls with nine fours and two sixes. That eased the situation for Services, which was cautious till then, especially after leg spinner Anustup Majumdar and left-arm medium pacer Kanishk Seth took two wickets each to inspire hopes in the Bengal ranks. For the first innings lead, Bengal got three points, while Services got one.

BRIEF SCORECARD

Bengal 552 for nine decl. and 161 for five decl. in 22 overs (Abhishek Kumar Raman 40, Abhimanyu Easwaran 39, Manoj Tiwary 22 n.o., Diwesh Pathania three for 71, Suraj Yadav two for 49) drew with Services 359 in 111.2 overs and 212 for seven in 77 overs (Vikas Hathwala 64, Navneet Singh 49, Ravi Chauhan 27, Anustup Majumdar two for 46, Kanishk Seth two for 18).