Utkarsh earns Jharkhand 1st-innings lead with 185 on board

Off-spinning all-rounder Utkarsh Singh starred with his best bowling figures in an innings in first-class cricket – 6/30 – to help Jharkhand take the upper hand on Day 1 of their last group league engagement of Ranji Trophy in Jamshedpur on Thursday. Batting first, hosts Jharkhand were all out for 185 before riding on Utkarsh's magic spell to skittle their formidable opponents Tamil Nadu for a meagre 106 in the Elite Group D game. The home side was 5/1 in their second essay when stumps were drawn on an eventful opening day where 21 wickets fell. Among those, 18 were taken by spinners. Only two went to TN medium pacer Mohammed Mohammed while Baba Indrajith retired hurt on 2. Jharkhand lead TN by 84 runs going into the second day. Opting to bat first on a spin-friendly Keenan Stadium track in a must-win game to keep their slim chances for knockouts alive, Jharkhand were bowled out in the second session on Day 1 with experienced left-arm spinner Sai Kishore leading the Tamil Nadu bowlers' charge.Opener Sharandeep Singh scored a patient 52 off 90 balls, while Virat Singh (40) and allrounder Anukul Roy (46) chipped in with valuable contributions to take the home side closer to 200-run mark. But complete failure by the other batters, including skipper Ishan Kishan (8) at No. 6, helped TN fold the Jharkhand innings to 185 well before tea. The visitors' joy was short-lived as Utkarsh ran through the TN batting while left-arm spinner Manishi took 2/32. Last-match centurion Kumar Suraj returned ducks in both innings as he was the only Jharkhand batter to be dismissed by Kishore in second innings. Brief scores: Jharkhand 185 in 53.2 overs (Sharandeep Singh 52, Anukul Roy 46, Virat Singh 40; Sai Kishore 3/42, Ajith Ram 3/47) & 5/1 in 2 overs (Kishore 1/5). Tamil Nadu 106 in 27.5 overs (Md Ali 37; Utkarsh Singh 6/30, Manishi 2/32). Match to continue.