Ranji Trophy: Gritty Chetan Sakariya, Yuvrajsinh Dodiya Help Saurashtra Gain Lead Over Karnataka

Saurashtra's last-wicket pair of Chetan Sakariya and Yuvrajsinh Dodiya waged a grim battle to give their team a crucial four-run first innings lead despite Karnataka leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal grabbing eight wickets in an excellent spell on Day 3 of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match in Rajkot on Friday. Resuming from their overnight 200 for four, Saurashtra were in danger of conceding the innings lead after slipping to 342 for nine with Shreyas (8/110) doing the bulk of damage. But Chetan Sakariya (29, 72 balls) and Yuvrajsinh Dodiya (13 not out, 34 balls) added 34 runs for the 10th wicket as the home side made 376, against Karnataka's 372.

In their second innings, Karnataka were 89 for on for a lead of 85 runs.

Skipper Mayank Agarwal (31) and Devdutt Padikkal (18) are batting at stumps.

In the morning session, Prerak Mankad (27) was the first to depart, falling leg before to Shreyas.

But veteran Arpit Vasavada (58) and Gajjar Sammar (45) shared a solid stand of 57 for the sixth wicket as Saurashtra moved close to 300-run mark.

Shreyas returned to trap Vasavada in front of the wicket, and soon he added the scalps of Sammar and Dharmendra Jadeja to his kitty.

Shikhar Shetty breached the defence of Jaydev Unadkat to reduce Saurashtra to 342 for nine, and the visitors looked set to take the innings lead and three points.

But Sakariya and Dodiya had other ideas as the last wicket pair stoutly resisted Karnataka bowlers for nearly 16 overs.

Dodiya edged pacer Abhilash Shetty through the slips to take Saurashtra to 370 from 366, and Agarwal handed the ball back to Shreyas in search of a decisive breakthrough.

But Sakariya slog-swept the leg-spinner for six over mid-wicket to hand his side the innings lead, a moment he celebrated with a punch in the air.

Shreyas trapped Sakariya leg before two balls later to bring curtains down on Saurashtra innings, but by then they had done just enough to ensure three points from this contest.

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Topics mentioned in this article

Cricket Saurashtra Chetan Sakariya Ranji Trophy