Amid a swift change in plot in the last one hour, gritty half-centuries by Avi Barot and Vishvarajsinh Jadeja took Saurashtra to 206 for five on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final against Bengal at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Monday.
Also read: Ranji Trophy 2019-20 final: The stats that matter
Electing to bat, Saurashtra conceded some momentum when it lost three wickets and saw star batsman Cheteshwar Pujara (5) retiring owing to a throat infection.
Good start
Openers Harvik Desai (38, 111b, 5x4) and Avi Barot (54, 142b, 6x4) gave Saurashtra a solid start through a fine 82-run partnership on a batsman-friendly track. It was the best opening stand by any side against Bengal this season.
Displaying sound temperament and footwork, the home openers denied the visiting pacers any early advantage. They left the good deliveries and placed the loose ones in gaps. The pair also had the Bengal fielders, who failed to grab some difficult chances, to thank.
Also read: Ranji Trophy semifinal | From being a non-entity, Mukesh Kumar rises as hero of Bengal
Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed, who bowled 20 overs on the trot in the first two sessions and posed some questions, was the one who provided Bengal the breakthrough in the third over of the post-lunch session. Desai pushed at one to be caught at silly point.
Barot, who drove beautifully on both sides, put up another noteworthy partnership of 50 runs with a confident-looking Vishvaraj (54, 92b, 7x4) to strengthen Saurashtra’s position. Young Vishvaraj, who played some crispy shots including three consecutive boundaries off Shahbaz, scored his second half-century inside three weeks.
Akash broke their association finding Barot’s outside edge. The hard-working opener opted for the DRS, but could not extend his stay.
The Bengal bowlers found better line and length on a pitch that became slower. The ball virtually rolling to the wicketkeeper on a few instances raised doubts of the match extending more than four more days.
Also read: Ranji Trophy: Fiery Mukesh is Bengal’s hero
Clutch of wickets
Bowling with a big heart, the strongly-built Akash breached Vishvaraj’s defence with a delivery that cut in sharply. Three overs later, Ishan Porel trapped Sheldon Jackson in front and Akash had nightwatchman Chetan Sakariya caught behind.
Health issues of Pujara, who came in at No. 6 and could face only 24 deliveries owing to overnight throat infection and feverishness, affected Saurashtra’s impetus. Captain Jaydev Unadkat expressed confidence that Pujara would be fit on the morrow.
Also read: Unadkat leads Saurashtra to second successive Ranji Trophy final
The scores:
Saurashtra — 1st innings: Harvik Desai c sub b Shahbaz 38, Avi Barot c Saha b Akash 54, Vishvarajsinh Jadeja b Akash 54, Arpit Vasavada (batting) 29, Sheldon Jackson lbw b Porel 14, Cheteshwar Pujara retd. hurt 5, Chetan Sakariya c Saha b Akash 4; Extras (b-1, lb-5, nb-1, w-1): 8. Total (for 5 wkts. in 80.5): 206.
Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-113, 3-163, 4-182, 5-206.
Bengal bowling: Porel 16-5-37-1, Mukesh 22-3-55-0, Shahbaz 23-6-56-1, Akash 14.5-3-41-3, Nandi 5-1-11-0.
