Gujarat need 209 more runs to avoid innings defeat

Mohali, Dec 3 (UNI) Gujarat require 209 more runs with nine wickets in hand to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat afteer scoring 86 for one at close of play on the third day of their Elite Group B match against Punjab in the Ranji Trophy Championship at the PCA Stadium here today.

After the fall of opener Akash Christian's (16) wicket at 18, fellow opener Nilesh Modi and Timil Patel held the fort and took the total to 86 without any further loss with an unbroken 68-run partnership for the second wicket. Nilesh was batting on 34 with two fours while giving him company was Timil on 33 with two fours.

Earlier, Punjab declared their first innings at 508 for nine.

This was the highest total against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy. It was for the 21st time that Punjab had scored more than 500 runs in an innings.

The hosts today resumed their first innings at the overnight score of 321 for two with Ravneet Ricky (142) and Gourav Gupta (32). With the addition of just 13 runs, Punjab lost Ricky who could add only two runs to his overnight score before he was bowled by Ashraf Makada (1 for 92).

The highlight of Punjab's innings on the third day was an unbeaten century by Gourav Gupta who went on to compile 121. His well-compiled innings was studded with 11 sweetly-timed boundaries.

Gourav recorded his 10th century in the National Championship. He achieved this feat in his 52nd match and 81st innings. With the fall of Rajesh Sharma's (run out, 1) wicket at 503-9, Punjab declared their first innings 32 minutes before tea interval. Love Ablish did not bat.

SCOREBOARD: Gujarat (Ist innings) 208 Punjab (1st innings): RS Ricky b Makda 144 K Goel c Modi b Majmudar 95 Manish Sharma c Amit Singh b Majmudar 30 G Gupta not out 121 P Dharmani b Majmudar 11 Uday Kaul run out (sub SG Patel) 18 Reetinder Sodhi c Majmudar b Timil Patel 7 Ihan Malhotra c Majmudar b Timil Patel 29 Gagandeep Singh c (sub SG Patel) b Niraj Patel 21 Rajesh Sharma run out (Hemal Watekar) 1 Extras (lb 5, nb 21) 26 Total (for 9 wickets decl; 156.3 overs) 503 Fall of wickets:1-179, 2-248, 3-334, 4-357, 5-404, 6-412, 7-456, 8-500, 9-503.

Bowling: Ashraf Makda 34-4-92-1 Hitesh Majmudar 27-2-105-3 Amit Singh 34-6-99-0 Kirat Damani 16-2-48-0 Timil Patel 30.3-3-110-2 Hemal Watekar 11-0-34-0 Niraj Patel 4-0-10-1 Gujarat (2nd innings) Nilesh Modi batting 34 Akash Christian lbw Gagandeep 16 Timil Patel batting 33 Extras (nb 1 b 1 lb 1) 3 Total (for one wicket in 32 overs) 86 Fall of wicket: 1-18 Bowling Love Ablish 11-2-22-0 Gagandeep Singh 9-1-32-1 Rajesh Sharma 7-0-13-0 Ishan Malhotra 3-0-7-0 Karan Goel 2-0-10-0.

UNI XC DP PM RS1833