Ajay Kukna bagged his eighth five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket to help Rajasthan gain a vital first innings lead against Uttarakhand in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash at the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy Ground in Dehradun on Tuesday.The 29-year-old left-arm spinner returned with yet another impressive spell — 30-8-66-5 — to floor the hosts.It was Kukna’s second five-wicket haul this season after bagging 5 for 51 against Tamil Nadu at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur earlier this month.
Left-arm spinner Ajay Kukna bags his eighth five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket to help Rajasthan gain a vital first innings lead against Uttarakhand on Tuesday
Hosts Uttarakhand conceded a first-innings lead of 78 runs after being bundled out for 194 (72 overs) in reply to Rajasthan’s 272.Rajasthan were 39 for one at the halfway stage, leading by 117 runs overall with nine wickets in hand.Kukna was well supported by fellow left-arm spinner Mohit Changra, who scalped 2 for 25. Off-spinner Vishal Harsh (1-29) and veteran pacer Aniket Choudhary (1-42) chipped in with a wicket each.It was 36-year-old Choudhary’s 500th wicket in domestic cricket. After missing the season’s first couple of matches, left-arm speedster Choudhary returned to the side and bowled 11 overs.
Rajasthan veteran pacer Aniket Choudhary (1-42) takes his 500th wicket in domestic cricket on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match against Uttarakhand in Dehradun on Tuesday
Uttarakhand opener Tejaswi Jaiswal was the top scorer with 45. Nischal Daga and Lakshya Raichandani made 26 each, while Suchith Jagadeesha contributed 25 runs.At stumps on Day 2, opener Sachin Yadav was batting on 18 (44b, 1×4), while giving him company was former vice-captain Mahipal Lomror on 15 (81b, 1×4).So far, Sachin and Mahipal have added 31 runs for the unfinished second wicket. Rohan Rajbhar (4) failed for the second time in the match as he was cleaned up by seamer Mayank Mishra.BRIEF SCORESRajasthan 272 & 39/1 in 23 overs (Sachin Yadav 18 not out, Mahipal Lomror 15 not out; Mayank Mishra 1-19) lead Uttarakhand 194 in 72 overs (Tejasvi Jaiswal 45; Ajay Kukna 5-66) by 117 runs.
