Gujarat fight back on Gaja fifer after conceding lead
RAJKOT: Medium pacer Chintan Gaja grabbed a fifer to lead Gujarat’s fightback after they conceded a 52-run first-innings lead against Saurashtra on the third day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final here on Monday.
Gaja (5/15) reduced Saurashtra to 66 for 5 in their second innings at the end of day three as the hosts took an overall lead of 118 at the SCA Stadium in Khandheri.
The 25-year-old Ahmedabadborn Gaja bowled in the right areas and was handsomely rewarded for his efforts.
His scalps were Harvik Desai (0), Kishan Parmar (0), Avi Barot (1), Vishwaraj Jadeja (6) and firstinnings centurion Sheldon Jackson (0), reducing Saurashtra to 15 for 5. But the experienced Arpit Vasavada (23 batting) and Chetan Sakariya (32 batting) stood tall against the Gujarat bowlers till stumps.
This was after the hosts, who had posted 304, dismissed Gujarat for 252 in their first innings.
Gujarat was reeling at 155/8 in their first innings, before Rujul Bhatt (71, 212b) and Gaja (61,103 b) joined hands to bail their side out by adding 87 runs for the eighth wicket. It was Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat (3/86) who broke the stand by dismissing Bhatt, caught by Barot. Bhatt’s dismissal paved the way for the hosts to take the first-innings lead.
In the morning, Saurashtra’s Chirag Jani dealt Gujarat a double blow after removing overnight batsman Axar Patel (21) and Roosh Kalaria (0) in quick succession.
But a determined Bhatt, who stuck six four, stood in their way. He found an able partner in Gaja, whose knock was laced with six fours and four sixes.
Gujarat took lunch at 211 for 8, still adrift by 93 runs.
The duo raised Gujarat’s hopes of taking the first-innings lead before Unadkat broke the stand.
Saurashtra, Ranji finalists last year, will have to bat deep on the fourth day to post a competitive target for Gujarat.
Brief Scores: Saurashtra 304 and 66/5 (Chetan Sakariya 32 batting, Chintan Gaja 5/15) v/s Gujarat 252 (Rujul Bhatt 71, Chintan Gaja 61; Jaydev Unadkat 386). Saurashtra lead by 118 runs.