Saurashtra sitting pretty after another dismal show by Hyd

Hyderabad: Saurashtra were well placed with a 171-run lead after dismissing Hyderabad for a paltry 79 in their first innings on the first day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the Gymkhana ground here on Tuesday. At close, Saurashtra were 250 for five with Sheldon Jackson on 59 (61b; 4x5, 6x4) while Dharmendrasinh Jadeja was unbeaten on 3.Earlier, left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat, fresh from his career-best spell of 8/39 against Delhi, which included a first-over hat-trick, wrecked Hyderabad with his opening spell. Playing his 50th Ranji Trophy match, skipper Tanmay Agarwal had a forgettable day. After opting to bat, the left-handed opener lasted just 10 balls before becoming Unadkat’s first victim. Unadkat struck two more blows to remove Alankrit Agarwal and debutant T Santosh Goud, both caught at slip by Arpit Vasavada. Hyderabad never recovered from three for 20. Only Rohit Rayudu (23; 72b, 4x4) showed some fight before he was caught at forward short-leg by Samarth Vyas off spinner Yuvrajsinh Dodiya to reduce Hyderabad to 61 for six. Hyderabad, 79 for eight at lunch, folded up after the break without any addition. Unadkat, who bowled a brilliant first spell of 7-0-23-3, finished with 8-0-28-3 while spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja mopped up the tail for returns of 3.5-0-8-3. Saurashtra were given a flying start by wicket-keeper batsman Harvik Desai (81; 108b, 4x12) and Chirag Jani (68; 91b, 4x11, 6x1) as they stitched up 140-run partnership for the first wicket. Left-arm spinner Aniketh Reddy, who bowled unchanged after the tea break, managed to peg back Saurashtra with his three-wicket haul (3/63), which included Cheteshwar Pujara (25; 35b, 4x4). Rohit struck twice in two balls to remove Arpit Vasavada and Vyas to bring some cheer to the Hyderabad camp.Brief scores: Hyderabad 79 in 30.5 overs (Rohit Rayudu 23; J Unadkat 3/28, DA Jadeja 3/8, Y Dodiya 2/23) vs Saurashtra 250/5 in 54 overs (Harvik Desai 81, Chirag Jani 68, Sheldon Jackson 59 batting; G Aniketh Reddy 3/74, Rohit Rayudu 2/20).