Saxena puts Uttarakhand on top; Sikkim sniff win

Vineet Saxena missed out on a double century by 15 runs but his knock ensured Uttarakhand put up a massive 557 against Nagaland to keep them firmly in sight of a sixth win on the trot in their Ranji Trophy Plate Group fixture here Sunday.

At the close of play on the penultimate day, Nagaland were 182/4 trailing by 168 runs with opener Sedezhalie Rupero (85), and middler-order batsman KB Pawan (46) putting up a valiant fight.

Captain Rongsen Jonathan (23) and Abrar Kazi (7) were at the crease as the group leaders were six wickets shy of their sixth successive win.

Opener Saxena was looking all set to score a double-hundred but Arbar Kazi trapped him LBW as he departed for 185 from 384 balls (19x4) earlier in the day.

The hosts had added four runs to their overnight total of 371 when Saurabh Rawat (42) departed but No 9 Mayank Mishra struck a quickfire 58 in as many balls (5x4, 3x6) to prop their total.

In Jorhat, Taruwar Kohli starred with both bat and ball, waging a lone battle for Mizoram, even as Sikkim sniffed a third win.

Having bagged a 5/39 to help Mizoram bundle out Sikkim for 169 in their second essay, Taruwar remained unbeaten on 105 from 179 balls (13x4) to keep their hopes alive.

Mizoram were 162/8 with Kohli unbeaten at the crease as his team still needed 179 runs more to secure an improbable win on the final day.

Earlier Sikkim, overnight 75/3, set a 341-run target with Bipul Sharma slamming a brisk 72-ball 65, studded with six fours and four sixes.

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