Haryana batsmen deny Maharashtra outright win

Maharashtra had to be content with three points by virtue of the first innings lead after the home team failed to secure an innings victory over struggling Haryana in a Ranji Trophy Group B match in Pune on Tuesday.

All Maharashtra needed on the final day of the match was eight Haryana wickets, but their bowlers failed big time. The visitors, resuming at the overnight score of 75 for 2, ended their second innings at 255 for seven.

Overnight batsman Sunny Singh top-scored for Haryana with a 103-ball 54 while Abhimanyu Khod (42), skipper Amit Mishra (29), Rahul Dalal (26) and Jayant Yadav (22 not out) also made useful contributions with the bat to save the visitors from the humiliation.

For Maharashtra, Samad Fallah picked three wickets for 59 runs while pace partner Shrikant Mundhe scalped two.

Earlier, Maharashtra declared their first innings at 540 eight in reply to Haryana's 257 all out, which ensured the hosts at least three points from the encounter.

Brief Scores:

Haryana: 257 & 255 for 7 in 116 overs (Sunny Singh 54, Abhimanyu Khod 42; Samad Fallah 3-59)

Maharashtra: 540 for 8 decl in 153 overs.