Jharkhand today closed in on victory, requiring just 37 more runs against Maharashtra in a Group B Ranji Trophy fixture here.
Having already taken a 96-run lead first innings lead, Jharkhand bundled out Maharashtra for a meagre 188 in their second essay.
Needing just 93 runs for victory, Jharkhand reached 56 for four in their second innings with Virat Singh unbeaten on 16 and Anand Singh on eight at stumps on the penultimate day.
Earlier, resuming on 293 for seven in their first innings replying to Maharashtra's 210 all out, Jharkhand scored 306 to take a healthy lead.
Jharkhand bowlers -- Ashish Kumar (3/44) and Shahbaz Nadeem (3/43) -- then shared six wickets between them, while Varun Aaron (2/37) also chipped in with two scalps to restrict Maharashtra below 200 in their second innings.
Maharashtra skipper Kedar Jadhav top scored with 56.
Chasing a modest target, Jharkhand did not get off to a good start, losing both their openers for a duck each to be struggling at zero for two but Virat Singh and Saurabh Tiwary steadied the boat for a while.
Tiwary, however, got out after a quickfire 20-ball 22 but Virat held on to his wicket. Ishank Jaggi (4) was another Jharkhand wicket to have fallen before the close of play.
For Maharashtra, Anupam Sanklecha (2/20) and Shrikant Mundhe (2/22) took two wickets each.
Brief scores:
Maharashtra: 210 & 188 (Kedar Jadhav 56; Shahbaz Nadeem 3/43, Ashish Kumar 3/44)
Jharkhand: 306 & 56 for four in 13 overs (Saurabh Tiwary 22; Anupam Sanklecha 2/20, Shrikant Mundhe 2/22).
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
