Jaydev Unadkat’s milestone a hundredth First Class match didn’t get off to a vibrant begin as Saurashtra toiled for wickets in its Ranji Trophy sixth-round sport in opposition to Andhra Pradesh on the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Tuesday.
However, skipper Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya’s breakthroughs within the final hour helped the host claw its method again with the latter’s dismissal of Ricky Bhui (80, 155b, 8×4, 1×6) tilting the scales. Andhra was at 256 for 5 at Stumps.
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Saurashtra’s sluggish begin was not because of an absence of effort from Unadkat and his bowlers. Andhra openers C.R. Gnaneshwar and Abhishek Reddy negotiated the primary hour with considerable defence after their captain Hanuma Vihari opted to bat first on a tough floor.
Unadkat’s first spell (5-2-7-0) was a show of unmistakable seam bowling as Gnaneshwar countered the left-arm pacer by leaving deliveries on size to wicketkeeper Harvik Desai. At the opposite finish, Sakariya opted to pitch shorter to check the batters. Abhishek, the extra proactive of the 2, opened the scoring within the fourth over with a backfoot square-cut 4 – utilising the true bounce off the floor. Run scoring was not straightforward on a cold morning devoid of swing because the bowlers endured with probing traces.
However, the pair did not cap an ideal session as left-arm spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja struck in successive overs on the stroke of Lunch. A faster supply on size prompted a miscued flick from Abhishek to Samarth Vyas at ahead short-leg. Gnaneshwar’s vigil ended as one other supply skid off the strip to entice him for 34.
The conventional synchronised clapping by the Saurashtra fielders dwindled within the second session as Ricky Bhui took off with 5 fours. No.3 Vihari (38) was content material with the ready sport, however Jadeja ultimately sneaked one previous an tried reduce to interrupt a 70-run stand.
Bhui retained his solidity with Ashwin Hebbar after a rejuvenated Unadkat dismissed Karan Shinde (31). Bhui’s premature wicket, nevertheless, blew Andhra’s in any other case fruitful day.