Gujarat superior to the Ranji Trophy semifinals for the primary time for the reason that 2019-20 season after thumping Saurashtra by an innings and 98 runs on the Niranjan Shah Stadium, right here on Tuesday.
On a day 4 pitch that had no demons for the batters, Saurashtra confirmed faint resistance, getting skittled out for 197 within the second innings for a powerful defeat effectively earlier than tea. The batting unit had let the house workforce down within the first innings as effectively by folding for 216. In distinction, Gujarat had piled up 511 with centuries from Urvil Patel and Jaymeet Patel in its lone knock.
To the credit score of the bowlers within the customer’s camp, they hunted as a pack on day 4 too. Whereas tall medium-pacer Priyajitsinh Jadeja claimed 4 for 32, left-armer Arzan Nagwaswalla seemed notably penetrative with an older ball that was inclined to reverse swing.
Resuming on 33 for no loss, Saurashtra started the day confidently with Harvik Desai driving Nagwaswalla to the correct of deep backward level for a boundary. Harvik unfurled a couple of extra such drives in his knock of 54. However as soon as his opening associate, Chirag Jani, miscued a pull in opposition to Priyajitsinh to deep sq. leg within the twenty eighth over to finish a stand of 67, all of it went pear-shaped for Jaydev Unadkat’s males.
Cheteshwar Pujara had a recreation to overlook. He fell in Priyajitsinh’s very subsequent over for 2, flicking a half-volley on center and leg stump to Nagwaswalla at sq. leg. When Chintan Gaja introduced himself again into the assault within the thirty sixth over, he managed to induce Harvik’s exterior edge.
Leggie Ravi Bishnoi joined in on the wicket-taking act when Sheldon Jackson, who known as time on his glorious home profession after the sport, inside-edged a drive onto his stumps. Nagwaswalla got here into his personal on both aspect of the lunch break, taking out Arpit Vasavada, Prerak Mankad and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja with the reverse-swinging ball.
The scores: Saurashtra — 1st innings: 216.
Gujarat — 1st innings: 511.
Saurashtra — 2nd innings: Harvik Desai c (sub) Het b Gaja 54, Chirag Jani c Nagwaswalla b Priyajitsinh 26, Cheteshwar Pujara c Nagwaswalla b Priyajitsinh 2, Sheldon Jackson b Bishnoi 27, Arpit Vasavada lbw b Nagwaswalla 11, Prerak Mankad c Aarya b Nagwaswalla 8, Sammar Gajjar c (sub) Het b Bishnoi 7, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja c Jaymeet b Nagwaswalla 19, Jaydev Unadkat b Priyajitsinh 29, Yuvrajsinh Dodiya (not out) 9, Hiten Kanbi c Aarya b Priyajitsinh 0; Extras (b-2, nb-3): 5; Complete (in 62.1 overs): 197.
Fall of wickets: 1-67, 2-71, 3-98, 4-118, 5-132, 6-135, 7-149, 8-159, 9-197.
Gujarat bowling: Gaja 15-4-34-1, Nagwaswalla 14-1-54-3, Siddharth 6-0-23-0, Priyajitsinh 8.1-2-32-4, Jayswal 2-1-6-0, Bishnoi 12-3-30-2, Jaymeet 5-2-16-0.
Printed – February 11, 2025 10:41 pm IST
