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Saurabh, Kaverappa put Rest of India ahead on second day

Saurabh Kumar took four wickets in the eight overs he bowled Bangladesh Cricket Board

Saurashtra 212 for 9 (Vasavada 54, Kaverappa 3-28, Saurabh 3-64) trail Rest of India 308 all out (Sai Sudharsan 72, Bhut 5-94, Dharmendrasinh 3-90) by 96 runs

Saurabh Kumar's all-round show, combined with Rest of India bowlers' clinical performance put the team ahead against Saurashtra in the Irani Trophy. In reply to Rest of India's 308, Saurashtra reached 212 for 9 at stumps. Vidwath Kaverappa and Saurabh picked up three wickets each to entertain thoughts of a first-innings lead.

After Saurashtra bowled Rest of India out early in the morning, they were put on the back foot straight away with fast bowler Kaverappa knocking over Harvik Desai and Chiraj in his first two overs. A score of 1 for 1 became 77 for 5 with Saurabh snagging Sheldon Jackson and Samarth Vyas. Cheteshwar Pujara consumed 81 balls for 29 runs before he was dismissed by right-arm offspinner Pulkit Narang. Kaverappa picked up one more wicket in the final session to return figures of 3 for 28 in his nine overs.

With Saurashtra in need of repairs, Arpit Vasavada produced a patient half-century. He first shared a 47-run partnership with Prerak Mankad for the sixth wicket and then put on 54 runs for the seventh wicket with Parth Bhut, who had completed a five-wicket haul in the morning. Vasavada hit just two boundaries in his 127-ball knock and scored 54 runs before falling to Saurabh, ten minutes before the close of the play.

Earlier, Saurabh, at No. 8, managed to push his score up to 39, including five fours, before he eventually became Bhut's fifth victim as Rest of India folded soon after crossing the 300-mark.

Saurashtra 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st3CS JaniHM Desai
2nd12SB VyasHM Desai
3rd11CA PujaraHM Desai
4th7SP JacksonHM Desai
5th1AV VasavadaHM Desai
6th8PN MankadHM Desai
7th8DA JadejaPN Mankad
8th1DA JadejaPR Bhut
9th28JD UnadkatDA Jadeja
10th0JD UnadkatY Dodiya