Ranji Trophy 2023-24: MP’s promising begin fades as Pondicherry positive factors management on day 1

After two classes of exhibiting the restraint and self-discipline that appeared like the proper foil for the search that England has taken upon itself to reinvigorate the soul of red-ball cricket, Madhya Pradesh’s resolve lapsed within the remaining session of the opening day of its Ranji Trophy Elite Group D fixture towards Pondicherry right here on the CAP Ground 2 on Friday.

Poised to bury the host below an imposing complete, MP crumbled from 152 for 2 at Tea to 224 for seven at stumps. Skipper Shubham Sharma’s indiscretion within the first over of the third session set the precedent as he was caught within the slips taking part in away from his physique off Gourav Yadav.

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Himanshu Mantri (77, 191b, 3×4, 1×6) and Venkatesh Iyer adopted go well with, perishing in fast succession whereas driving exterior off-stump, with Saurabh Yadav accounting for each batters.

Earlier, openers Yash Dubey (59, 160b, 7×4) and Mantri shunned committing the error that haunted the remainder of their teammates later. Dubey shouldered arms to all of the six deliveries, bowled by Gourav, within the first over of the match after Pondicherry elected to bowl.

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In the second, he drove expansively and obtained an outdoor edge that was spilt within the cordon. Dubey then put a premium on his wicket, solely flicking the overpitched deliveries on leg-stump and slashing on the quick stuff when provided room to gather all of the six boundaries that MP scored within the first session.

Mantri shifted gears after Lunch, including to the frustration of Sagar Udeshi, who noticed Dubey and Shubham reprieved off his bowling. The left-arm spinner troubled the batters with flip and further bounce, however castled Dubey with one which saved low to finish the 112-run opening stand.

He picked two extra wickets within the remaining hour of the day, earlier than Saransh Jain and Anubhav Agarwal averted additional harm with an unbeaten 27-run rearguard.