Cheteshwar Pujara scores ton as Saurashtra, Tamil Nadu fight for 1st innings lead
Cheteshwar Pujara is unbeaten on 152 along with Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Shah, who is batting on 133. The visitors are trailing Tamil Nadu by 239 runs with a day to go in the match at Chepauk.
With the match heading towards a tame draw, both Tamil Nadu and Saurashtra look to fight it out to take the first innings lead, as the third and penultimate day on Saturday ended with the two teams sharing honours in their Group B Ranji Trophy match.
In reply to Tamil Nadu's 565 for eight declared, Saurashtra reached 326 for three in their first innings at the close of play with Cheteshwar Pujara unbeaten on 152 and Jaydev Shah on 133. The visitors now trail the hosts by 239 runs with seven wickets in hand in Chennai at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk.
Come Sunday, keen battle is on the cards as Saurashtra will be looking to topple the hosts' first innings total, while Tamil Nadu will be keen to restrict the visitors below 565.
Starting the day on 12 for one, Saurashtra lost overnight batsman - Bhushan Chauhan - early with no addition to his last night's score of three.
However, Pujara, resuming on eight, blasted 21 boundaries during his brilliant knock that came off 264 balls. He also added an unbeaten 260 runs with Jaydev for the fourth wicket. Jaydev took 219 deliveries for his 133, which was laced with nine boundaries and as many as six sixes.
Brief scores:
Tamil Nadu 565 for 8 decl. (Abhinav Mukund 240, Dinesh Karthik 133; Jaydev Unadkat 4 for 99) lead Saurashtra 326 for 3 in 93 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 152*, Jaydev Shah 133*; R Prasanna 1 for 26) by 239 runs.