Gaja takes 5 as Gujarat fight back

Rajkot, March 2

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Medium-pacer Chintan Gaja grabbed a five-for to lead Gujarat’s fightback after they conceded a 52-run first innings lead against Saurashtra on the third day of their Ranji Trophy semifinal. Gaja (5/15) reduced Saurashtra to 66/5 in their second essay at the end of Day 3 as the hosts took an overall lead of 118.

The 25-year-old Ahmedabad-born Gaja’s scalps included Harvik Desai (0), Kishan Parmar (0), Avi Barot (1), Vishwaraj Jadeja (6) and Sheldon Jackson (0) as he reduced Saurashtra to 15/5. But the experienced Arpit Vasavada (23*) and Chetan Sakariya (32*) stood tall against the Gujarat bowlers till stumps were drawn. This was after the hosts, who had posted 304, bundled out Gujarat for 252 in their first essay.

Bengal in firm control against Karnataka

Kolkata: Hosts Bengal tightened their grip over their Ranji Trophy semifinal by reducing Karnataka to 98/3 after setting them a stiff 352-run target on Day 3 of the contest. Resuming the day at 72/4, Bengal were bowled out for only 161 in their second innings, but their massive 190-run first innings lead meant that Karnataka now have a mountain to climb. Anustup Majumdar hit a combative 41 in Bengal’s second innings amid yet another batting collapse. KL Rahul was a big disappointment in the chase, dismissed without scoring by a peach of a delivery by Ishan Porel. R Samarth and Devdutt Padikkal put up a 57-run partnership after the fall of Rahul. At stumps, Padikkal (50*) and Manish Pandey (11*) were the unbeaten batsmen. Earlier, Sudip Chatterjee (45) was Bengal’s top-scorer in their second innings, while Majumdar and all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed (31) continued their fine form in a 61-run partnership to prop up their overall lead. — PTI

Brief Scores: Bengal 312 and 161 (S Chatterjee 45, A Majumdar 41, S Ahmed 31; A Mithun 4/23, K Gowtham 3/15); Karnataka: 122 and 98/3 (D Padikkal 50*)

Saurashtra: 304 and 66/5 (C Sakariya 32*; C Gaja 5/15); Gujarat: 252 (R Bhatt 71, C Gaja 61; J Unadkat 3/86)