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Irani Cup 2016-17, Day 2, tea: Gujarat on top despite Cheteshwar Pujara’s fighting knock

Gujarat ended their innings at 358 with Chirag Gandhi the top scorer for the side with 169 runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara is approaching his fifty as he remained unbeaten on 49 © AFP
Cheteshwar Pujara is approaching his fifty as he remained unbeaten on 49 © AFP

Chesteshwar Pujara’s composed innings lifted Rest of India (ROI) to 137 for 3 at tea on Day Two of Irani Cup 2016-17, at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Gujarat’s Chintan Gaja continued to run through ROI’s top order. He first dismissed Abhinav Mukund for 8 before lunch. And in the second session, he broke a crucial partnership between captain Pujara and Karun Nair. Both stitched a 47-run stand for the third wicket to steady ROI’s innings. Pujara, however, had also built a partnership of 68 runs with Herwadkar, including 11 fours and a six. Pujara remained unbeaten on 49 alongside new batsman Manoj Tiwary, trailing 221 runs.

ROI bounced back in the second session after losing an early wicket few minutes before lunch break. Pujara took charge, as he struck 4 boundaries within 5 overs post the break. Pujara and Herwadkar were only dealing in boundaries. Herwadkar also got to his personal milestone of 2,000 First-Class runs in 29 matches.

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However, Gujarat once again heaved a sigh of relief when they grabbed Herwadkar for 48, with Dhruv Raval catching a blinder at first slip. Nair came No. 4 joining captain Pujara. They together added 47 runs on board. However, Gujarat bounced back in the final few minutes before tea picking, Nair for 28.

The morning session saw Gujarat continue their command, picking Mukund’s wicket. Ranji final’s top wicket-taker Chintan Gaja was the first to pounce on the platter. Gujarat innings witnessed Chirag Gandhi flourish with his best First-Class figures of 169. He smashed 22 fours and 2 sixes to save Gujarat from a tough situation. Gujarat also saw some crucial partnerships of Gandhi with Manpreet Juneja (109) as well as Hardik (72).

As for ROI, the pick of bowlers were Pankaj Singh (4 for 104) and Siddarth Kaul (5 for 86), providing their side the regular breakthroughs

Brief scores:

Gujarat 358 (Chirag Gandhi 169, Manpreet Juneja 47, Dhruv Raval 39, Priyank Panchal 30; Siddharth Kaul 5 for 86, Pankaj Singh 4 for 104, Akhil Herwadkar 1 for 13) lead Rest of India (Akhil Herwadkar 48, Cheteshwar Pujara 49*; Chintan Gaja 2 for 40, Hardik Patel 1 for 29) by 221 runs

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