Day 1: Anshu Jain's century put Rajasthan in strong position

Rajasthan's opening bat Anshu Jain hit magnificent century at the right time and added 112 runs for the second wicket with Rahul Kanwat to put Rajasthan in strong position at the close of play on the first day.

Rajasthan captain Aashish Kapoor won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat track. Gagan Khoda went early, caught at first slip slip by Vikram Rathour off Sandip Sharma. Then Anshu Jain and Rahul Kanwat both played some marvellous strokes to add 112 for the second wicket.

Kanwat was out soon after lunch as he played back and offered a simple catch to the silly point fielder Dharmani. Rajasthan's score at lunch was 120 for 1. Ajay Mehra playing his first match for Rajasthan as a second professional player was dismissed after scoring 21 runs.

Captain Aashish Kapoor was given out when he played a ball forward onto the turf and then onto Kapoor's foot. The silly point fielder Mongia took the ``catch'', and Umpire N Muralidharan declared Kapoor out. The new ball was taken after 89.2 overs.

Day 2: Rajasthan pile on the runs, Krishnakumar scores unbeaten ton

Rajasthan posted a large total of 521 for 8 wickets against Punjab in the Ranji Trophy Super League Match. P Krishnakumar (133) and Mohammad Aslam (18) were at the crease at close of play.

Earlier, resuming from an overnight score of 252 for 5, Rajasthan scored 269 runs in today's alloted 90 overs. First to go was Anil Sinha on 11, caught by wicket keeper Harminder Jugnu, as he tried to cut a ball from Sandip Sharma that was close to his body. The new man DP Singh and P Krishnakumar added 63 for the seventh wicket before DP Singh holed out, caught at long-off by Sandip Sanwal for 44.

Then came a fruitful partnership of 149 runs between Manish Singh and P Krishnakumar. The pair added the runs in 195 minutes, off 276 balls. They were separated after the third new ball was taken, Manish Singh being trapped lbw by Bhushan after scoring 82.

P Krishnakumar made his fourth century in the Ranji Trophy tournament. He had earlier made 140 against Railways at same venue (1996-97). Rajasthan's 500 runs came in 734 min and 176.3 overs.

Day 3: Aashish Kapoor's bowling too good for Punjab

At the close of play on the third day, Rajasthan captain Aashish Kapoor took four crucial wicket including that of Test star Navjot Sidhu to put Rajasthan in a strong position. Earlier resuming from the score of 521-8, Rajasthan were all out 536. At close of play Punjab were 239-5, still needing 147 to avoid follow on.

Some highlights of today's play:

Vikram Rathour completed 4000 runs in Ranji Trophy for Punjab, playing his 66th match.

Navjot Singh Sidhu completed 3000 runs in Ranji Trophy, in his 47th match, when he was on 32.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Aslam claimed his 102nd wicket in Ranji Trophy for Rajasthan, when he took RS Sodhi's wicket. He is the 12th Rajasthan bowler to take 100 or more wickets.

Day 4: Rain dashes Rajasthan's hopes

The four-day Super League match between Rajasthan and Punjab ended in a draw, as rain had the final say in the outcome.

Only 102 minutes of play was possible today, due to three stoppages for rain and bad light. Finally, at 1545 hrs umpire N Murlidaran and KR Shankar decided that the light would not improve, and the match ended without two completed innings. Each team earned 3 points.

Two wickets fell today. Overnight not out batsman Dinesh Mongia was out, as he tried to drive Mohammad Aslam's well pitched ball towards mid-on where A Kapoor the catch. Rajasthan took the new ball after 100 overs and Shamsher Singh claimed Saranjit Singh wicket.