Published: Jan 22, 2017, 12:29 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 22, 2017, 12:32 PM (IST)
Day Three of Irani Cup 2016-17 between Gujarat and Rest of India (ROI) saw the Ranji winners taking a lead of 181 runs at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Gujarat lost two wickets at the beginning and end of the first session, but Priyank Panchal and Dhruv Raval provided stability after Samit Gohil perished. Raval and Panchal added 38 runs for second wicket that consisted of 6 fours. As for the ROI bowlers, they were disciplined with their bowling as Pankaj Singh once again provided an early relief to ROI. Some lacklustre fielding was noticed with a few dropped catches so far in the contest, with Karun Nair spilling one today. However, it was a sweet ending for ROI with Mohammed Siraj handing a breakthrough by accounting for Raval. Captain Parthiv Patel, alongside Panchal remained unbeaten, taking Gujarat to 49 for 2 at lunch.
Gujarat already had a huge lead of 132 on board after dismantling ROI for 226. Gohil and Panchal opened the innings while ROI’s Pankaj began the attack. Panchal was off the mark with 3 runs off Kaul. However, Gohil continued his poor form in Irani Cup being dismissed cheaply for 1. Pankaj once again got hold of the opener in this game. Mukund made no error this time and grabbed the opportunity at third slip. Raval and Panchal provided a fresh start to Gujarat. By drinks, Gujarat’s score was reading 20 for 1 with a steady 16-run stand for second wicket between Panchal and Raval.
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Meanwhile, ROI’s poor fielding continued with Nair dropping yet another easy chance at the first slip. Raval was given a life at 9 and Siraj missed his first wicket for this innings. However, Siraj was lucky the second time before heading for lunch and this time he caught hold of Raval for 23, with Tiwary helping out at the second slip. That ended the growing partnership between Raval and Panchal.
ROI entering Day Three with overnight score of 206 saw the tail-enders Siraj and Pankaj adding 34 runs for the 10th wicket. Gaja bagged his fourth wicket of the innings of Siraj for 26 as Pankaj remained unbeaten on 9.
Day Two saw captain Cheteshwar Pujara waging a lone battle. He scored 86 and supporting him was opening batsman Akhil Herwadkar with score of 48. Both stitched 68 runs for second wicket, but Gujarat bowlers dominated on ROI batsman.
Hardik Patel and Gaja shared 6 wickets to reduce ROI to 206 for 9. Mohit Thadani provided a helping hand as well with his 2 wickets.
Brief scores:
Gujarat 49 for 2 (Priyank Panchal 25*, Dhruv Raval 23; Pankaj Singh 1 for 12, Mohammed Siraj 1 for 16) & 358 (Dhruv Raval 39, Manpreet Juneja 47, Chirag Gandhi 169; Pankaj Singh 4 for 106, Siddarth Kaul 5 for 86) 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)
