Saurashtra Poised for Lead While Mumbai Score First Win

Rajkot/Mumbai, Jan 9 (PTI) Hosts Saurashtra held the upper hand after they reduced Vidarbha to 280 for 9 on the third day of the Elite Group A Ranji Trophy game in Rajkot on Wednesday.

And it was Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat who led from the front grabbing six wickets conceding 56 runs at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot.

The hosts had posted 356 in their first innings and are still 76 runs ahead and well on course to take the crucial first innings lead.

For defending champions Vidarbha, who resumed at their overnight score of 63 for 2, veteran Wasim Jaffer stood out with his 98-run knock.

Jaffer in his 225-ball stay at the crease, stuck eight fours and a six.

But Saurashtra hit at right intervals as they roared back into the game, which was drifting away due to Jaffer's knock.

After Jaffer departed, Vidarbha's lower middle order batsman Mohit Kale (66) played a crucial knock.

Even Akshay Wakhare (22) and Suniket Bingewar (30) got starts but they failed to convert.

Vidarbha's no 10 Aditya Thakare (3) and no 11 Yash Thakur (0) were holding fort at stumps.

Meanwhile, 41-time champions Mumbai, who are already out of quarter final reckoning, defeated Chhattisgarh by 9 wickets to record their first outright win of the season at the Wankhede Stadium.

The win meant that the multiple Ranji champions avoided relegation to a lower Group.

Chasing the 91-run target, Mumbai resumed from their overnight score of 77 for no loss and hit off the required 14 runs in the morning. But they lost their opener Vikrant Auti (34) when the team score was 79.

The other opener Jay Bista (49 not out) then completed the proceedings in 24.2 overs along with Yashasvi Jaiswal (0 not out) at the other end.

Mumbai had bowled out Chhattisgarh for 129 in the first innings and then had scored 188 in their first essay to take the lead.

The hosts then bundled out the opposition for 149 in the second innings to lay the foundation of the consolation win.

Pacer Tushar Deshpande, who ended the game with nine wickets, was adjudged as the Man of the Match.

Brief Scores: At Mumbai: Chattisgarh 129 and 149 lost to Mumbai 188 and 92/1 (Jay Bista 49 not out, Vikrant Auti 34, Pankaj Rao 1-20) by 9 wickets.

Mumbai 6 points, Chattisgarh 0 points.

At Rajkot: Saurashtra 356 versus Vidarbha 280 for 9 (Wasin Jaffer 98, Mohit Kale 66, Jaydev Unadkat 6-56, Chetan Sakariya 2-72).

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