Maharashtra seize initiative against Rajasthan

Maharashtra produced a collective bowling effort to reduce Rajasthan to 299 for eight and seize the initiative in a Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match, here today.
Resuming at the overnight score of 76 for two in reply to Maharashtra's 461 all out, Rajasthan ended the day near the 300-run mark but still trail by 162 runs in the first innings with just two wickets in hand and just a day's play remaining in the four-day game.
Opener Manender Singh added 32 more runs to his overnight personal score before being dismissed at 63, while Siddharth Dobal made 59.
Besides, Ashok Maneria (42) and Mahipal Lomror (32) also got starts before being dismissed.

At stumps on the third and penultimate day, wicket-keeper Chetan Bist was batting on 43.
Chirag Khurana (2/24), Akshay Darekar and Mohsin Sayyed (2/62) shared six wickets between them for Maharashtra.

If not for a magical batting effort tomorrow, Maharashtra are all set to take the crucial first innings lead over Rajasthan.
Brief Scores:
Maharashtra: 461 all out in 147.4 overs (Naushad Shaikh 143, Rahul Tripathi 95; Pankaj Singh 4/62).
Rajasthan: 299 for eight in 118.4 overs (Manender Singh 63, Siddharth Dobal 59; Akshay Darekar 2/31).