Skipper Gaja comes to the fore for Gujarat on seamer-friendly surface

Skipper Chintan Gaja’s four-wicket haul helped Gujarat dismiss Saurashtra for 216 in the first innings on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal in Rajkot on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: File photo: VIJAY SONEJI

When Gujarat skipper Chintan Gaja called correctly at the coin toss against Saurashtra on Saturday morning, he told the broadcaster that the rationale behind opting to bowl was to exploit the even covering of grass adorning the surface.

Three sessions and eight hours later, as day one of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal between these two teams at the Niranjan Shah Stadium drew to a close, Gaja couldn’t have been happier with his bowling unit’s execution. The 30-year-old is worthy of a pat on his own back, for he led the way with figures of 21-9-48-4 to bundle out Saurashtra for 216 in 72.1 overs. In the five overs that Gujarat batted before stumps were called, Priyank Panchal and Aarya Desai took the visitor to 21 for 0.

Though Gaja had maximum success, it was a collective effort that helped Gujarat seize the opening day’s play. For the home team, Chirag Jani battled hard and contributed 69, helped by a couple of reprieves that could still prove decisive in shaping the final outcome.

On a deck that had an uncharacteristic tinge of green, Saurashtra were actually off to a good start in the morning session with Jani and Harvik Desai ensuring a wicketless opening hour. The ball did go past the outside edge a few times, but whenever there was a loose ball to be dispatched, it was.

Just when it seemed that desperation could creep in among the Gujarat bowlers, left-arm pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla got one to hold its line in the 16th over and take Harvik’s outside edge. A few overs passed by quietly before Cheteshwar Pujara was undone by left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai. Where the usually reliable No. 3 erred was in playing against the turn, which led to a leading edge lobbing to Manan Hingrajia at cover.

Gujarat went from strength to strength in the period between lunch and tea, scalping four wickets and conceding just 36 runs in 24 overs.

The scores:

Saurashtra — 1st innings: Harvik Desai c Urvil b Nagwaswalla 22, Chirag Jani c Urvil b Gaja 69, Cheteshwar Pujara c Hingrajia b Siddharth 26, Sheldon Jackson lbw b Desai 14, Arpit Vasavada (not out) 39, Prerak Mankad c Urvil b Jaymeet 0, Sammar Gajjar c Hingrajia b Jaymeet 4, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja c Aarya b Gaja 22, Jaydev Unadkat c Urvil b Gaja 14, Yuvrajsinh Dodiya b Gaja 0, Hiten Kanbi c Hingrajia b Bishnoi 1; Extras (nb-3, lb-2): 5; Total (in 72.1 overs): 216.

Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-95, 3-127, 4-139, 5-140, 6-148, 7-177, 8-203, 9-203.

Gujarat bowling: Gaja 21-9-48-4, Nagwaswalla 19-3-63-1, Priyajitsinh 7-1-27-0, Jaymeet 16-7-37-2, Siddharth 7-0-35-2, Bishnoi 2.1-0-4-1.

Gujarat — 1st innings: Priyank Panchal (batting) 11, Aarya Desai (batting) 10; Total (for no loss. in 5 overs): 21.

Saurashtra bowling: Unadkat 3-1-6-0, Kanbi 2-0-15-0.

Toss: Gujarat.