SPO-RANJI GROUP A

Hosts Saurashtra held the

upper hand after they reduced Vidarbha to 280 for 9 on the

third day of the Elite Group A Ranji Trophy game in Rajkot on

Wednesday.

And it was Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat who led

from the front grabbing six wickets conceding 56 runs at the

SCA Stadium in Rajkot.

The hosts had posted 356 in their first innings and

are still 76 runs ahead and well on course to take the crucial

first innings lead.

For defending champions Vidarbha, who resumed at their

overnight score of 63 for 2, veteran Wasim Jaffer stood out

with his 98-run knock.

Jaffer in his 225-ball stay at the crease, stuck eight

fours and a six.

But Saurashtra hit at right intervals as they roared

back into the game, which was drifting away due to Jaffer's

knock.

After Jaffer departed, Vidarbha's lower middle order

batsman Mohit Kale (66) played a crucial knock.

Even Akshay Wakhare (22) and Suniket Bingewar (30) got

starts but they failed to convert.

Vidarbha's no 10 Aditya Thakare (3) and no 11 Yash

Thakur (0) were holding fort at stumps.

Meanwhile, 41-time champions Mumbai, who are already

out of quarter final reckoning, defeated Chhattisgarh by 9

wickets to record their first outright win of the season at

the Wankhede Stadium.

The win meant that the multiple Ranji champions

avoided relegation to a lower Group.

Chasing the 91-run target, Mumbai resumed from their

overnight score of 77 for no loss and hit off the required 14

runs in the morning. But they lost their opener Vikrant Auti

(34) when the team score was 79.

The other opener Jay Bista (49 not out) then completed

the proceedings in 24.2 overs along with Yashasvi Jaiswal (0

not out) at the other end.

Mumbai had bowled out Chhattisgarh for 129 in the

first innings and then had scored 188 in their first essay to

take the lead.

The hosts then bundled out the opposition for 149 in

the second innings to lay the foundation of the consolation

win.

Pacer Tushar Deshpande, who ended the game with nine

wickets, was adjudged as the Man of the Match.

Brief Scores: At Mumbai: Chattisgarh 129 and 149 lost

to Mumbai 188 and 92/1 (Jay Bista 49 not out, Vikrant Auti 34,

Pankaj Rao 1-20) by 9 wickets.

Mumbai 6 points, Chattisgarh 0 points.

At Rajkot: Saurashtra 356 versus Vidarbha 280 for 9

(Wasin Jaffer 98, Mohit Kale 66, Jaydev Unadkat 6-56, Chetan

Sakariya 2-72).

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)