Saurashtra post 284/3 against Delhi

Rajkot, Dec 25 (UNI) Saurashtra posted 284 runs for three wickets in the first innings against Delhi in the Super League Ranji encounter on the opening day of the four-day match at the Madhavrao Scindia ground here today.

Unbeaten half centuries by S Kotak (92 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (85 not out) and equally sprightly half century by opener Sagar Jogiyani (61) rallied Saurashtra to take grip of the match.

Saurashtra, who faces the threat of relegation, put up the consolidated score against formidable Delhi team. Delhi has six points, while Saurashtra is yet to open its account.

Delhi's medium pacers -- Aashih Nehra, Ishant Sharma and Amit Bhandrai -- failed to break the partnership for the fourth wicket.

Southpaw Shitanshu Kotak and Pujara set a blistering pace, with 150-run partnership, as the team raised a solid 284 for three.

Asked to bat first by Delhi's captain Mithun Manhas, the hosts made a solid start, with the opening pair Kanaiya Vaghela and Sagar Jogiani putting on 50 runs for the first wicket before the former was caught by wicketkeeper P Bisht off Aashish Nehra. Vaghela made 17 runs.

Prashant Joshi, who joined Jogiani, did not last long and was trapped LBW by Nehra. He went back without scoring.

Jogiani and Shitanshu Kotak added 76 runs for the third wicket before the former was bowled by Ishant Sharma. His 61 runs came off 122 balls, with ten boundaries.

Cheteshwar Pujara got a life on 24 when S Sharma dropped his catch on his own bowling. Pujara and Kotak hammered the bowlers whenever they erred in length.

Kotak's unbeaten 92 contained eleven fours off 258 balls, while Pujara's unbeaten 85, studded with 14 boundaries, came after facing 258 balls.

Brief Score: Saurashtra lst Innings 284/3 in 90 overs (S Jogiani 61, S Kotak n.o.92 C Pujara n.o. 85 A Nehra two for 79 and I Sharma one for 72).

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