Unlike a dum-sealed biryani slow-cooking to perfection, this Ranji Trophy contest between Hyderabad and Punjab at the Gymkhana simmered for nearly four whole days and never quite served up a result.

After adding 183 runs and losing six wickets on Thursday, Punjab declared at 240 for six, with handshakes following immediately. The home side was left with one point and plenty of ‘what ifs’ while the visitor walked away with three.

Harnoor Singh was the first to depart on the final day. After ten overs of dots and singles, a determined Prabhsimran Singh broke free against Ruthik Yadav, flaying a six and two fours.

At the other end, Vihaan Malhotra shifted gears briefly, reaching his half-century with a six and a four, before C.V. Milind broke through his defence. Unfazed, Prabhsimran raced to his fifty off 63 balls, before a mistimed reverse sweep ended his enterprising knock.

Jashanpreet Singh and Salil Arora fell on either side of lunch, and Enamjot Singh followed a few overs later. But this contest had long run out of steam. Uday Saharan’s half-century prompted a declaration, with a 291-run lead. The sides settled on a draw.

Tipping points

Two passages of play swayed the contest Punjab’s way. On day two, Salil and Umesh Yadav defied Hyderabad with a 116-run stand to lift Punjab from 315 for nine to 431.

The other was an ‘out-of-syllabus’ Vihaan special where he snared four wickets in six overs to help bowl out the home side for 380 on day three.

“We wanted to try something different. Vihaan bowls a little slower. We were expecting him to bowl with some turn but he bowled straight and got wickets,” Punjab captain Uday explained.

Hyderabad now turns its attention to a bonus date on home turf with Chhattisgarh, while Punjab hosts Andhra.

The scores:

Punjab — 1st innings: 431.

Hyderabad — 1st innings: 380.

Punjab — 2nd innings: Vihaan Malhotra b Milind 53, Harnoor Singh c Pragnay b Rakshann 28, Prabhsimran Singh c Himateja b Tanay 68, Uday Saharan (not out) 55, Jashanpreet Singh b Rakshann 4, Salil Arora c Pragnay b Aniketh 0, Emanjot Singh c Tanmay b Tanay 14, Harjas Singh (not out) 7; Extras (b-6, lb-2, nb-2, w-1): 11; Total (for six wkts. decl. in 78 overs): 240.

Fall of wickets: 1-64, 2-123, 3-166, 4-172, 5-174, 6-209.

Hyderabad bowling: Milind 7-1-22-1, Ruthik 15-0-55-0, Tanay 23-3-51-2, Rakshann 11-3-16-2, Aniketh 16-2-76-1, Varun 6-1-12-0.