Virender Sehwag is not done even after retirement

Virender Sehwag cracked a strokeful 136 runs in 170

 balls before HS Sharath hat-trick led Karnataka back in

 the game 

Virender Sehwag smashed 16 fours and three

 sixes in his innings.

Virender Sehwag celebrated his international retirement with a scintillating ton for Haryana as Jayant Yadav also joined the century-makers’ list to help the side post 319 for eight on a dramatic Day 1 of their Ranji Trophy cricket league match against Karnataka in Mysore on Wednesday.

Sehwag, who announced his international retirement on Tuesday, did not disappoint the spectators as he cracked a strokeful 136 runs in 170 balls with 16 fours and 3 sixes.

Yadav, whose 100-run knock was laced with 11 fours and a six, also joined the party as the duo stitched a 206-run third wicket partnership.

When the stumps were drawn, Haryana were in a strong position with tail-enders Harshal Patel and Ashish Hooda, batting on zero and six, respectively.

Defending champions Karnataka though showed courage to strike back after the tall stand as the bowlers bagged five wickets for just 54 runs in the final session. Sharing the new ball with captain Vinay Kumar, HS Sharath led charge with a hat-trick to end the day with impressive figures of 4-47.

His hat-trick wickets were that of Sachin Rana (33), Rahul Dagar (0) and Nitish Saini (0). The hat-trick though was claimed in separate overs.

David Mathias bagged two wickets while Vinay Kumar and left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith claimed a wicket each. Arriving at the crease after the fall of Rahul Dewan (9), Sehwag quickly got into his groove and executed some of his trademark hand-eye coordinated shots on both sides of the wicket.

As he was looking ominous on the other side of the wicket, scoring freely, the Nawab of Najafgarh lost his partner Chaitanya Bishnoi (13) after he stitched a 35-run stand for the second wicket with the opener.

Notwithstanding the early blows, the former Delhi swashbuckler, along with Yadav, shouldered the responsibility of stabilising the tottering Haryana innings.

Sehwag and Yadav, sent the Karnataka bowlers for a leather hunt in their marathon stand, which they crafted in just 290 balls.

Electing to bat first, Haryana lost their first wicket in the eighth over of the match in the form of Dewan, when he was claimed by Sharath after Karun Nair held on to the catch.

The visitors lost their second wicket when Bishnoi was sent back to the pavilion by Mathias after Chidambaram Gautam gloved a clean catch, leaving Haryana struggling at 53 for two in under 20 overs.

Brief Scores: Haryana 319/8 in 61 overs overs (Virender Sehwag 136, Jayant Yadav 100; HS Sharath 4-46)

Sudeep, Saha take Bengal to 272/3 on Day 1

Wriddhiman Saha’s delightful strokeplay coupled by Sudeep Chatterjee’s patient century saw Bengal reach a respectable 272 for three at stumps against Delhi on the first day of their Ranji Trophy cricket encounter.

Left-hander Sudeep (108 batting) scored his second hundred in three matches, adding 142 runs with Saha (67 batting) for an unbeaten fourth-wicket stand.

The other highlight of the Bengal innings was a 103-run stand for the third wicket between Sudeep and skipper Manoj Tiwary (55).

Brief Scores: Bengal 272/3 in 90 overs (Sudeep Chatterjee 108 not out, Manoj Tiwary 55, Wriddhiman Saha 67 not out; Manan Sharma 1-81)

Menaria, Bhatia hit fifties as Rajasthan reach 258/5 on day 1

Ashok Menaria (84) and Rajat Bhatia (59) hit half-century each as Rajasthan reached 258 for five against Maharashtra on the first day of their Ranji Trophy Group A cricket match.

Menaria and Bhatia put on 86 runs together for the fourth wicket to take the home team past 200-run mark.

Brief scores: Rajasthan 1st innings: 258 for five in 88.3 overs (Ashok Menaria 84, Rajat Bhatia 59; Samad Fallah 2/58) vs Maharashtra.

Umesh Yadav picks up four as Vidarbha dismiss Assam for 206

Dropped from the Indian team for the final two ODIs against South Africa, pacer Umesh Yadav warmed up for the Test series with a four wicket haul for Vidarbha on day one of their Ranji Trophy match against Assam in Nagpur on Wednesday.

Yadav returned with figures of 4 for 49 in 19 overs to help Vidarbha dismiss Assam for 206. Off-spinner Akshay Wakhare too took four wickets as the visitors faltered after winning the toss.

Brief scores: Assam 206 in 87 overs (Amit Verma 57, Syen Mohammad 69; Umesh Yadav 4/49, Akshay Wakhare 4/47)