KOLKATA: Already staring at a huge loss at stumps on Day 3, Bihar's second innings lasted only 4.1 overs on the final day as they succumbed to an innings and 157-run loss against Andhra in Patna on Monday.
The hosts, who began Day 4 at 111/8 with a herculean task of making Andhra bat again with 170 runs in arrears and two wickets in hand, folded for a paltry 124 in their second essay.
This is Bihar's second outright loss in Ranji Trophy this season. They have drawn the other three games and managed three points in the last game against southern rivals Kerala.
Andhra, on the other hand, produced an all-round show to romp home with a massive win and grabbed seven crucial points from their Elite Group B clash at Moin-ul Haq Stadium.
Bihar batters flopped, collectively, in both innings as they had managed just 182 in their first essay. In reply, Andhra put up a massive 463, taking a huge lead of 281 runs.
Nithish Kumar Reddy was the Player of the Match for his 159 as Andhra also grabbed a bonus point.
With this win, the Ricky Bhui-led side is behind group leaders Mumbai on the table with 22 points from five games. Bihar are languishing at the seventh spot with five points from five ties, just above wooden spooners Assam.
Brief scores: Bihar 182 & 124 in 51.1 overs (Babul Kumar 34; Lalith Mohan 4/35, KV Sasikanth 3/8) lost to Andhra 463 by an innings and 157 runs. Points: Andhra 7, Bihar 0.
Assam, UP take 1 point each
Due to bad weather no play was possible at Green Park in Kanpur on Monday between home team Uttar Pradesh and visitors Assam and the two teams shared one point each at the end of the final day of the Group B match.
UP batter, opener Aryan Juyal was declared the Player of the Match for his mammoth innings of 201 (278 balls, 21x4s, 1x6s) in the first innings. UP are on third spot on the Group B table with 12 points in five games while a struggling Assam continue to remain rock-bottom.
Meanwhile, at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur, Kerala grabbed three points from their drawn contest against hosts Chhattisgarh for taking a slender lead of 38 runs in the first innings.
The game ended when Chhattisgarh reached 79/1 in their second essay after Kerala set a 289-run target on the final day.
Sachin Baby missed a century for the second time in the match as he was run out for 94 in Kerala's second innings after making 91 in the first. Baby's knock, combined with Mohammed Azharuddeen's unbeaten 50 took Kerala to 251 for five declared on the final day.
Brief scores: Uttar Pradesh 548/8 decl. drew with Assam 316/2. Points: Uttar Pradesh 1, Assam 1
