Tweakers spin Saurashtra to easy win

Ahmedabad: If Saurashtra captain and pacer Jaydev Unadkat was the wrecker-in-chief in Delhi’s first innings on Tuesday, it was the turn of spinners Yuvrajsinh Dodiya and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja on Thursday. The duo bamboozled the Delhi batters to spin Saurashtra to an innings and 214 runs win in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group ‘B’ clash in Rajkot. The hosts now sit at the summit of the table with 19 points after four matches while Delhi are second from bottom with two points from four matches.
Resuming at 503/6, Unadkat, who was later named the player of the match for his all-round performance, bludgeoned three sixes and five boundaries to hit a 68-ball 70.At the other end, Arpit Vasavada eased himself to an unbeaten 152. The hosts declared their innings at 574/8 after dismissals of Unadkat and Jadeja in quick succession.
Delhi began second innings trailing by 441 runs. Ayush Badoni and Dhruv Shorey showed promise and intent but the former’s attacking instincts got the better of him. An enterprising 67-run first-wicket stand was broken by left-arm spinner Parth Bhut who had Badoni stumped by Harvik Desai. Badonihit two sixes in his 35-ball 40. Soon, Shorey (23) was cleaned up by off spinner Dodiya with the team score at 67.
Yash Dhull, who was captaining the Delhi side for the first time, had a forgettable first match. After getting out for nought in the first innings, Dodiya had him caught by Jackson for four. Hrithik Shokeen, promoted to number three following a half-century in first innings, shone again with a 51-run knock and added 72 for the fourth wicket with Vaibhav Rawal before the latter was trapped in front by the off spinner for 28. From 145/3, the Delhi middle order folded without any fight to be bowled out for 227. Dodiya grabbed five wickets conceding 91 runs while Jadeja chipped in with two wickets giving away 59 runs.
Delhi’s calamitous first innings, in which they scored only 133 courtesy Unadkat’s first-over hat-trick and eight-wicket haul, proved to be the match’s decisive factors. With the hosts piling on runs at ease, they were always going to play catch up. The former domestic champions have to win the remaining three matches to stay alive in the competition while Saurashtra look a formidable unit with an eye on the double, having won the Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier this season.