Pathak saves Saurashtra

Birju Pathak played a defiant innings for Saurashtra in their second innings against Mumbai to help them to a draw on the final day in the West Zone Ranji Trophy match at Indian Farmers' Fertilizers Co-Operative Udyognagar Stadium, Gandhidham on Monday.

Saurashtra ended the day on 179 for nine off 80 overs. Mumbai earned five points from their first innings lead and Saurashtra had to be content with three.

Mumbai declared their innings on the overnight score of 377 for eight. Saurashtra began the second innings on a sad note. Sudhir Tanna was back in the pavilion when Wasim Jaffer had him run out. Two overs later, Santosh Saxena had Rakesh Dhruv edging to wicket keeper Abhijit Shetye making the score read 11 for two. Prashant Joshi (45) and Prakash Bhatt (16) stuck to the task adding 50 runs for the third wicket off 22.4 overs. Birju Pathak anchored one end as wickets were falling. He played a patient 156 ball innings for his 44 with five hits to the fence.

Paras Mhambrey bagged three for 30 and Santosh Saxena took two for 13.