Ranji Trophy 2022-23: Chhattisgarh beat Pondicherry in Ranji Trophy as Ajay Mondal registers career-best bowling figure

Left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal delivered his career best with the ball as Chhattisgarh registered a 132-run win over Pondicherry in a low-scoring match of the Ranji Trophy 2022-23. Ajay Mondal claimed 13 wickets in the match.

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Winning the toss, Chhattisgarh opted to bat first and put 162 runs on the scoreboard with wicket-keeper batsman MSS Hussain contributing unbeaten 43 runs from 56 balls. Rishabh Tiwari (32 off 88), Sanidhya Hurkat (25 off 92), Amandeep Khare (26 off 46) and Shashank Singh (23 off 25) got a good start but failed to convert them into big. Sagar P Udeshi and Ankit Sharma claimed four wickets each for Pondicherry.

In reply, Pondicherry could score 37 with eight of the batsmen failing to reach the double figures. Ajay Mandal claimed seven scalps of Pondicherry in his 11.2 overs as he conceded 7 runs at an economy rate of 0.62. Similarly, another spinner Sumit Ruikar took three wickets. Both bowlers sent back the entire team to the pavilion in 23.2 overs.

Coming to bat in the second innings, Chhattisgarh added 184 runs to their 125-run first-innings lead, setting a target of 310 for Pondicherry. Skipper Harpreet Singh Bhatia made 63 off 86 while Shashank Singh made 56 off 65. Sagar P Udeshi took seven wickets for Pondicherry and Ankit Sharma took three.

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Chasing the target, Pondicherry could score 177 as Ajay Mandal took six wickets in the second innings while Sumit and Shubham took two each. K B Arun Karthick scored 55 off 82 and opener Neyan Kangayan made 49 for Pondicherry.