Ahmedabad: Odisha dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara cheaply but their bowlers were made to toil after lunch as Saurashtra reached an imposing 325/4 at stumps on Day 1 of the Elite Group D Ranji Trophy match here on Thursday.
Saurashtra, opting to bat first after skipper Jaydev Unadkat won the toss, put on 52 for the opening wicket before pacer Basant Mohanty and left-arm spinner Jayant Behera sent back openers Snell Patel and Harvik Desai, respectively.
Medium-pacer Debabrata Pradhan then struck a massive blow when he had Pujara caught by Debasish Samantray for just 8. Pujara is trying to regain form after being dropped from Team india’s Test squad for the upcoming home series versus Sri Lanka.
Having reduced Saurashtra to 84/3, Odisha looked to be in control. However, No. 3 Chirag Jani took it upon himself to steer Saurashtra to calmer waters. Jani negotiated everything the Odisha bowlers threw at him to remain unbeaten on 125, studded with 16 fours and 4 sixes.
He first added 130 runs for the fourth wicket with Sheldon Jackson (75) and 111 with Arpit Vasavada (51 batting) for the unbroken fifth-wicket partnership.
The 35-year-old Basant Mohanty was the most economical bowler, taking one for 44 in 23 overs. Behera bagged 2 wickets, but conceded 97 runs at 5.7 per over.
Pradhan finished the day with one for 72.
Scores: Saurashtra 325/4 in 84 overs vs Odisha.
Match to continue.
