Published: Jan 22, 2017, 06:07 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 22, 2017, 06:36 PM (IST)
An intriguing Day Three ended with Gujarat still ahead against Rest of India (ROI) with a lead of 359 in the Irani Cup 2016-17. ROI spinners, who faced tough time in the first innings, saw a complete transition in the second. Ranji 2016-17 season’s leading wicket-taker Shahbaz Nadeem stood out for his figures of 4 for 53. The last session saw Nadeem bagging 3 wickets of Mohit Thadani, Chintan Gaja and Karan Patel. Mohammed Siraj also got his second wicket this innings of yet another danger man Manpreet Juneja. However, Chirag Gandhi’s second First-Class fifty off 83 deliveries that included 7 fours kept Gujarat’s in command and took them to 227 for 8 at stumps.
The final session for the day began with a respite for ROI as Siraj dismissed Juneja for 12 with a faint nick, drifting to Wriddhiman Saha. Gandhi and Karan tried to build a strong partnership, with the former taking the front seat smashing 6 boundaries. Meanwhile, Gujarat crossed the 300-run lead by the 57th over. However, Nadeem pounced on the opportunity and got Karan for 15. Gandhi could have been caught by captain Cheteshwar Pujara at extra cover, but the ball bounced before being clipped by the fielder.
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Gujarat also went past the 200 total despite 6 wickets down by the 68th over. ROI were back in the game in the final session with Nadeem getting his third wicket for the day of Thadani for 11. He built a steady partnership of 28 runs for eighth wicket. Gaja was also shortlived right after Thadani departed for 2 with Nadeem acquiring his final wicket for the day. Gandhi and Hardik Patel remained unbeaten and are on the brink of repeating their first innings heroics.
In the second session, the game that was progressing towards Gujarat with Priyank Panchal’s fifty and his 85-run stand for third wicket with Parthiv Patel, twisted when Siraj and Nadeem got the wickets in the final hour before tea.
Brief scores:
Gujarat 358 & 227 for 8 (Priyank Panchal 73, Parthiv Patel 32, Chirag Gandhi 55*; Pankaj Singh 1 for 43, Mohammed Siraj 2 for 39, Shahbaz Nadeem 4 for 53) lead Rest of India 226 (Akhil Herwadkar 48, Cheteshwar Pujara 86; Chintan Gaja 4 for 60, Mohit Thadani 2 for 48, Hardik Patel 3 for 79) by 359 runs.
