Parthiv century boosts Gujarat

Parthiv Patel hit his 21st first-class century to lead a strong Gujarat batting performance against Odisha in Ahmedabad. Choosing to bat, Gujarat were given a 54-run partnership upfront by Samit Gohel and Priyank Panchal before the duo departed in successive overs. Bhargav Merai and Parthiv took over from the openers and added another 84. Jayanta Behera gave Odisha the breakthrough, removing Merai for 45 to take his second wicket but Gujarat were to put together a bigger, unbeaten partnership now. Venugopal Rao joined Parthiv and their 141-run association carried Gujarat to 287 for 3 by stumps. Parthiv hit 11 fours in his 109 while Rao was batting on 68.

Bottom-placed Jharkhand plodded to 233 for 5 against Vidarbha in Jamshedpur after choosing to bat. Rameez Nemat made 85 from 221 balls at the top of the order after Shrikant Wagh sent back Subroto Ghosh for a duck. Even as Nemat held one end up, Jharkhand kept losing wickets to the offspinner Akshay Wakhare just as partnerships developed. Wakhare first ran out Bhavik Thaker after a 91-run stand with Nemat and then removed Saurabh Tiwary for 10. Nemat and Ishank Jaggi, who made a brisk fifty, steadied the innings from 116 for 3 but Wakhare removed both batsmen in quick succession. Jharkhand were in trouble at 186 for 5 but captain Shahbaz Nadeem stroked an unbeaten 37 to keep Vidarbha at bay.