GUJARAT ON TOP

Gujarat’s Chintan Gaja and Hardik Patel shared six wickets between them to reduce the Rest of India (ROI) side to 206/9 after the second day’s play at the ongoing Irani Cup ended at the Brabourne Stadium here on Saturday. Tailenders Pankaj Singh (7 not out) and Mohammed Siraj (8 not out) were at the crease when the stumps were drawn for the day. Barring skipper Cheteshwar Pujara (86) and Maharashtra opener Akhil Herwadkar (48), the ROI batting failed drastically in their pursuit of overhauling Gujarat›s first innings score of 358. Medium pacer Gaja and left-arm spinner Hardik Pacer took three wickets each to trigger the opposition›s collapse, which saw five of their batsmen, including regular India wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha (0), back with single digit scores.