RESULT
Group B, Surat, November 17 - 20, 2017, Ranji Trophy
153 & 341
601/4d

Gujarat won by an innings and 107 runs

Player Of The Match
8/40
chintan-gaja
Report

Lower order rally helps Saurashtra eke out lead

Gujarat open up 297-run advantage over Rajasthan, bowlers keep Kerala in the hunt and J&K in the hunt for first-innings lead

Priyank Panchal caresses the ball through cover  •  AFP

Priyank Panchal caresses the ball through cover  •  AFP

Priyank Panchal, the previous season's highest run-getter, brought up his second successive century as defending champions Gujarat plundered Rajasthan in Surat. Gujarat opened up a 297-run advantage by ending the second day on 450 for 3. Bhargav Merai (110) and captain Parthiv Patel (119*) added 174 to help swell the total after Panchal's dismissal for a 223-ball 152 that had 23 fours.
A clash that could potentially decide the second qualifier from Group B was tantalisingly poised with Saurashtra's lower order rallying together to eke out a seven-run lead after Kerala's Sijomon Joseph triggered a middle order collapse. Saurashtra, cruising comfortably on the back of Robin Uthappa's 86, sensationally slipped from 148 for 2 to 178 for 7. A crucial 45-run stand between Jaydev Unadkat and Jay Chauhan gave them the cushion of a lead. Basil Thampi finished with three wickets while Joseph had 4 for 43.
Kerala then powered to 69 for 1 at stumps, with both Rohan Prem and Jalaj Saxena getting off to starts. They were ahead by 62 with two full days remaining, with the prospect of an outright result either way well and truly alive.
An intriguing battle for the first-innings lead is in store for day three in Lahli, as Jammu & Kashmir ended the day on 175 for 7, nine runs behind Haryana's 184. Despite losing opener Shubham Khajuria early on, J&K rebuilt through Ahmed Bandy (67) and Puneet Bisht (35) who added 45 for the third wicket.
From 100 for 2, J&K lost five wickets for 75 runs, with Ajit Chahal dismissing Owais Shah in the last over of the day. Chahal, Harshal Patel and Ashish Hooda finished with two wickets each. Earlier, Haryana added 65 to their overnight score of 119 for 7, with captain Amit Mishra top-scoring with 41. Harshal and Chahal chipped in with 23 and 22 respectively. J&K seamers Ram Dayal (5 for 57) and Mohammed Mudhasir (4 for 56) were the pick of the bowlers.

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Rajasthan Innings
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Ranji Trophy

Group A
TEAMMWLDPTNRR
KNTKA6402320.479
DELHI6303270.333
MAHA6221160.084
HYD621116-0.156
RLYS623114-0.312
UP603250.508
ASSAM60422-0.977
Group B
TEAMMWLDPTNRR
GUJ6501340.097
KER6510310.636
SAU6312260.245
J + K61419-0.077
HRYNA61419-0.506
JHK61418-0.049
RAJ60246-0.294
Group C
TEAMMWLDPTNRR
MP631221-0.116
MUM6204210.228
AP6105190.326
BRODA6114160.508
TN601511-0.112
ODSA60246-0.648
TPURA60244-0.426
Group D
TEAMMWLDPTNRR
VIDAR6402310.358
BENG6213230.367
PNJB6222180.609
HP6114140.300
CGR613213-0.514
SVCS612310-0.273
GOA60246-0.700