Sandeep Maniyar's (5 for 94) and a 127-run opening stand between Sagar Jogiyani (80) and Kanhaiya Vaghela (54) put Saurashtra in the driver's seat in their Ranji Trophy Plate Group semifinal against Madhya Pradesh here on Friday.
After bowling MP out for 275 to lead by 21 runs in the first innings, Saurashtra were 159 for three at stumps on day three. Though the overall lead of 180 does not put the hosts in a comfortable position with two days to go, they have the upper hand as their two best batsmen - skipper Jaydev Shah and Sitanshu Kotak - are yet to take strike.
The Saurashta openers, Vaghela and Jogiyani, rode on the momentum set by their quickies.
Jogiyani came out with an aggressive approach after lunch. His off-drives and cuts were a treat to watch. He was also involved in a verbal duel with the MP speedster Sanjay Pandey on the stroke of tea.
Vaghela and Jogiyani survived the second session as Saurashtra were 80 for no loss, with Vaghela unbeaten on 24 and Jogiyani on 47.
Shortly after tea, Jogiyani completed his 50 with a fierce cover drive off leg-spinner Yogesh Golwalkar. He followed it up with a huge six over long-off in the same over. The six also brought up the century stand in the 34th over.
{{/usCountry}}Shortly after tea, Jogiyani completed his 50 with a fierce cover drive off leg-spinner Yogesh Golwalkar. He followed it up with a huge six over long-off in the same over. The six also brought up the century stand in the 34th over.
{{/usCountry}}Scoreboard
Saurashtra 1st innings 296
Madhya Pradesh 1st innings (Dholpure c Joshi b Maniyar 32, Ojha c Kotak b Maniyar 32, Khurasiya c Jobanputra b Kotak 80, Bundela c Jogiyani b Maniyar 0, Abbas Ali lbw Maniyar 40, Golwalkar c Jogiyani b Jobanputra 1, Tomar c Jogiyani b Jobanputra 1, Mishra c Vaghela b Maniyar 49, Pandey lbw Kotak 7, Sudheendra c Bambhaniya b Jobanputra 13, Rajan not out 0).
Extras (b-5, lb-12, w-3) 20.
Total (in 83.5 overs) 275.
FoW: 1-55, 2-106, 3-106, 4-182, 5-183, 6-199, 7-199, 8-259, 9-271.
Bowling: Jobanputra 20.5-6-58-3, Maniyar 29-10-94-5, Vaghela 11-4-39-0, Makwana 12-5-29-0 (1w), Dhruve 7.2-2-26-0 (1w), Kotak 4-0-12-2.
Saurashtra 2nd innings (Vaghela b Golwalkar 54, Jogiyani c Ojha b Sudheendra 80, Joshi batting 9, Bambhaniya b Golwalkar 4, Makwana batting 0).
Extras (b-1, lb-1, nb-9, w-1) 12.
Total (for 3 wkts) 159.
FoW: 1-127, 2-146, 3-157.
Bowling: Pandey 15-1-48-0, Sudheendra 13-6-27-1, Rajan 15-7-36-0, Abbas Ali 5-2-8-0, Bundela 4-1-7-0, Golwalkar 12-5-31-2.