Harshal, Saini put Haryana in commanding position

Harshal Patel’s five-wicket haul helped Haryana bowl Tripura out for 178 at the Eden Gardens. In response, Haryana, who are neck-to-neck with Andhra in the hunt for knockout qualification, were 239 ahead after posting 186 for 4 at stumps. Opener Nitin Saini hit 104.

Tripura began the day on 70 for 4 and overnight batsman Smit Patel continued to lead the resistance in an innings where opener Bishal Ghosh (36) was the only other player to get into double figures. Smit batted with the lower order and scored 76 of Tripura’s 108 runs on the day as he brought up his third century of the season – and as a Tripura player – before he was the last man out. Harshal, who had already taken two wickets overnight, added three more on the day, starting with Yashpal Singh’s wicket in the ninth over.

In their second innings, Haryana openers Nitin Saini and Shubham Rohilla (47) put on a 103-run partnership that came at nearly five runs per over. Saini then added 47 for the second wicket with Chaitanya Bishnoi (21), and 31 for the third with Rajat Paliwal (10*) before falling in the penultimate over of the day. His 104 came at a strike-rate of 88.88.

Darshan Misal’s second …

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