Saurashtra take first innings lead

Hosts put up a solid performance to take first innings lead over MP on the third day of the Ranji Plate division semifinal.

Hosts Saurashtra on Friday put up a solid performance to take first innings lead over Madhya Pradesh on the third day of their Plate division semifinal clash here in the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament.

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Saurashtra pace duo Sandip Maniar and Sandip Jobanputra on Friday folded up the Madhya Pradesh innings for 275, 21 runs short of the hosts' first innings score of 296. Then their batsmen responded well by making 159 for the loss of three wickets to take an over all lead of 180.

Kanaiya Vaghela and Sagar Jogiyani showed decent performances by putting up 127 runs for the opening wicket, before Vaghela 54 (146b,11x4s) was bowled by Yogesh Golwalkar.

The leg spinner struck later by uprooting Bambhania's stump before T Sudhendra dismissed Sagar Jogiyani for 80 (146 b, 11x4, 1x6).

Prashant Joshi (9) and Kamlesh Makwana (0) were at the crease when stumps were drawn.

Earlier, Madhya Pradesh hopes of taking a first innings lead were dashed after the exit of skipper Abbas Ali, who added just eight runs to his overnight score of 32.

However, Mohnish Mishra frustrated the hosts by making a quickfire 49 off 69 balls with six fours and three sixes.

Maniar grabbed five wickets for 94 runs and was well supported by Jobanputra (3 for 58) and Shitanshu Kotak (2 for 12).