The Rest of India bowlers reduced Gujarat to 227 for eight at stumps but Priyank Panchal’s (73) effort at the top of the order and Chirag Gandhi’s unbeaten 55 has extended Gujarat’s lead to 359 runs at the end of Day 3.
Reflecting on the situation, Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel said, “Chasing in the fourth innings is not easy. Things could have been better but we are happy with whatever we have. We also have the recent experience of the Ranji Trophy final where we were chasing about 300 runs. We were under pressure there is no doubt about it. So chasing 400 odd runs in fourth innings is not easy. how many times has that happened? They are a quality side but runs on the board is very important.”
Gandhi who scored a vital century in the first innings, returned to anchor the innings the second time as well. Batting with the lower-order he had held the innings together as Shahbaz Nadeem and Co kept the lineup in check. Lauding the youngster’s efforts, especially given the circumstances, Parthiv said, “Chirag is batting brilliantly. He had hurt his right hand during practice in the morning while taking slip catches and has three stitches. It is brave of him to come out and bat the way he has with stitches on the hand and obviously first innings was fantastic knock.” The skipper too was looking good when he departed for 32. While his stay at the crease would helped add crucial runs, he was also five runs short of 10,000 runs in first-class cricket. Speaking later, the wicketkeeper-batsman said that he wasn’t aware of the approaching milestone.
Speaking about the wicket, he mentioned, “It is a good wicket. Probably the best five-day wicket where it seamed just a bit on the first day and it was good to bat yesterday and today and it has just started to spin a bit. So, that’s an ideal five-day wicket.”
Gujarat bowlers have done an excellent job of bowling the team to a solid first innings lead despite a strong and experienced opposition lineup comprising the likes of Pujara, Karun Nair, Abhinav Mukund, Manoj Tiwary and others. Speaking about his young attack, Parthiv said, “It was a classic example of disciplined bowling. It was just there and there abouts. That’s how we have played our cricket throughout the season. Very disciplined in batting, bowling and to stay within our limits and get the hundred per cent.
Fielding too complemented the bowling efforts and was the differentiating factor. The particular aspect of Gujarat’s cricket stood out and held them in good stead in the Ranji Trophy final as well as the ongoing game. “It is the most important aspect. We work on fielding sessions. Even in morning warm-ups we make sure we create lot of intensity and we carry that on to the field. Also, when you have a young side everyone wants to make it big so they put in all the efforts and that is the reason why we see some brilliant catches.”
