A valiant sixth-wicket partnership between Himanshu Rana (46 not out, 151 balls, 5 fours) and Sarvesh Rohilla (21 not out, 70 balls, 3 fours) proved crucial as Haryana secured a hard-fought draw against a spin-heavy TNCA XI in the second round of the Buchi Babu tournament at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground on Saturday.
Facing a daunting target of 353 on a pitch offering spin, bounce, and bite, Haryana required a miracle to survive. The team’s opening pair of Mayank Shandilya (45, 235 balls, 3 fours) and Nishant Sindhu (27, 64 balls, 4 fours) endured a challenging first hour, adding 44 runs for the third wicket. However, off-spinner S. Lakshay Jain broke the stand by trapping Nishant in front with a delivery that skidded off the surface.
Dheeru Singh (21, 58 balls, 1 four, 1 six) joined Mayank, and the duo managed to survive the first session, with Haryana reaching lunch at 96 for three. The crucial 40-run fourth-wicket partnership was broken in the second over after lunch when left-arm spinner P. Vidyuth, introduced by captain R. Sai Kishore, removed Dheeru with a delivery that kept low. Lakshay then sent back Mayank, who was trapped in front just before the tea break, ending a promising innings.
Despite a challenging surface and Haryana’s batters adopting a defensive approach, Sai Kishore’s decision to not apply more pressure with his bowlers might have been a missed opportunity. Rana and Rohilla’s unbroken partnership of 68 runs, however, ensured Haryana’s survival and a valuable draw against a strong TNCA XI. This result highlights Haryana’s resilience and ability to fight back under pressure, even against a formidable bowling attack.
