Ranji roundup: Defending champions Mumbai in dire straits

New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) Defending champions Mumbai were Saturday struggling to make the semi-finals as Rajasthan made 236 for one in the first innings and trailed by just 16 runs after the close of second day's play in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals in Jaipur.
Vineet Saxena made 111 and Hrishikesh Kanitkar was batting on 96 at stumps at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium as newly promoted Rajasthan, who are on their way take a huge first innings lead, have put themselves in a strong position to qualify for the semi-final. Mumbai were all out for 252 in the first innings.
In the other quarterfinal at Indore, Karnataka are in the driving seat as they ended the second day at 307 for eight in the first innings against newly promoted Madhya Pradesh after Amit Verma top scored with 85. The visitors have taken a huge lead of 106 runs.
In Rohtak, Tamil Nadu got themselves back into the match with bowlers restricting Haryana to 379 for six in the first innings a fog-hit at the Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium.
Only 26 overs of play was possible on the second day as match started after tea. Tamil Nadu bowlers got four Haryana wickets in 86 runs from their overnight score of 293 for two.
Baroda were also well set for a semi-final berth as they opened up a 55-run first innings lead at the end of play against Railways at the Motibagh Stadium in Vadodara. Baroda were 303 for four in the first innings with Kedar Devdhar batting on 122.
Brief scores: Haryana 379 for six (Nitin Saini 150, Sunny Singh 102; R.Ashwin 2-76).
Brief scores: Madhya Pradesh 200, Karnataka 306 for eight (Robin Uthappa 44, KB Pawan 49, Amit Verma 85, Manish Pandey 49; Jalaj saxena 3-31).
Brief scores: Mumbai 252 all out; Rajasthan 236 for one (Vineet Saxena 111. Hriskesh Kanitkar 96).
Brief scores: Railways 248 all out (Murali Karthik 57, Prashant Awasthi 34, Yere Goud 46, Jai Prakash Yadav 42, Nilesh Kumar Chauhan 35, Munaf Patel 4 for 88, Yousuf Pathan 2 for 50, Murtuja Vahara 2-48; Baroda Kedar Devdhar 122 not out, Yousuf Pathan 68).

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