Jay Gohil scored a sensational ton on his first-class debut as visitors Saurashtra raced to 313 for three wickets at stumps on Day 2 of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B opening-round match against Assam at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday.
After restricting the hosts' first innings to 286, Saurashtra rode No. 3 Gohil's unbeaten 177 and opener Harvik Desai's 108 to secure three points by virtue of taking the first-innings lead.
Assam got their first breakthrough early when right-arm medium pacer Mukhtar Hussain castled wicketkeeper-opener Snell Patel for 11 in the first ball of ninth over but for the next 60 overs it was Desai and Gohil's 276-run stand which made life difficult for the home side.
While Desai anchored the partnership with a 196-ball knock hitting 13 boundaries in the process, young Gohil — who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Tuesday — played the aggressor's role to perfection hitting 23 fours and two sixes in his 201-ball stay in the middle on Wednesday.
Looking down the barrel, there was some hope for Assam when Riyan Parag returned Desai and veteran Sheldon Jackson on the first and last deliveries of the third last over of the day.
Earlier, resuming on their overnight score of 249 for seven, Assam could add only 37 runs to their first-innings score as Chetan Sakaria accounted for the last three wickets to complete his five-for.
The left-arm medium pacer rattled the stumps of Hussain and No. 10 Avinov Choudhury before Swarupam Purkayastha edged one behind as the Assam innings folded for 286. Medium pacer Prerak Mankad scalped two wickets for 52 runs.
Brief scores: Assam (o/n 249/7) 286 in 94.3 overs (S Purkaysatha 33, M Hussain 23; C Sakaria 5-40, P Mankad 2-52). Saurashtra 313/3 in 71 overs (H Desai 108, J Gohil 177 batting; R Parag 2-72). Match to continue.
