Videos
Groundsmen In Patna Use Dung Cakes To Dry Pitch In Ranji Trophy Match Amid Delays
By CricShots - Oct 28, 2024 11:54 am
Views 22

Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy match between Bihar and Karnataka faced delays due to a wet outfield at Patna’s Moin-ul-Haq Stadium. To speed up drying, the groundsmen took a unique approach, burning dung cakes to dry the surface—a method that quickly went viral on social media. This unusual tactic drew comparisons to a recent incident in Rawalpindi, where groundsmen used table fans to dry the pitch for the third Test between England and Pakistan.

Patna pitch
Patna pitch was dried by burning dung cake

In Day 1 action, Karnataka bowled Bihar out for just 143 runs. Sharman Nigrodh offered some resistance with a composed 60, and Bipin Saurabh contributed 31, but the rest of Bihar’s lineup struggled. Seven batters fell for single-digit scores as Karnataka, led by Mayank Agarwal, dominated with the ball.

WATCH – Radha Yadav’s Stunning Flying Catch Stuns New Zealand In Second ODI Against India

The spin duo of Mohsin Khan and Shreyas Gopal wreaked havoc, with Khan taking three wickets and Gopal adding four to his tally. Karnataka managed to score 16 runs in three overs before the day’s play was halted. With only 59.5 overs bowled on Day 1 and Day 2 likely to be washed out, the game’s outcome remains uncertain.

Karnataka’s previous games have also been rain-affected; their match against Kerala ended in a draw, and their opener against Madhya Pradesh was marred by rain and bad light, limiting them to two points from two games. Bihar has faced similar struggles, both on and off the field. Recently, the high court intervened to set up a selection committee, which was able to finalize the team only days before their Ranji opener against Haryana.

ALSO READ:  “He does not have the mentality or technique” – Michael Vaughan questions Ollie Pope’s place in the squad

That game resulted in a heavy defeat, with Bihar losing by an innings and 43 runs. Their next game against Bengal in Kalyani was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain, leaving them at the bottom of the table. Both Bihar and Karnataka now contend not only with strong opponents but also with weather disruptions that continue to impact the season.