Arpit Vasavada has trained with and lived in the same locality as Cheteshwar Pujara. On Tuesday, the left-handed Vasavada did his more famous mate proud by bailing Saurashtra out of trouble and virtually sealing a berth in the Ranji Trophy final for the second time in succession.
Thanks to Vasavada’s third hundred this season (139, 230b, 16x4, 1x6) — a knock he later termed as “the most important” of his career — Saurashtra extended its second innings into the last hour of the fourth day and set Gujarat a daunting target of 327.
Early strike
Captain Jaydev Unadkat then dismissed opener Priyank Panchal for a duck to leave Gujarat at seven for one at stumps on the penultimate day at the SCA stadium.
Having staged Saurashtra’s mini-recovery after taking guard at 15 for five on the third evening along with Chetan Sakariya (45, 118b, 6x4), Vasavada knew his job was far from over.
Sakariya continued to bat effortlessly to groom senior pro Vasavada in confidence. Even after Sakariya sacrificed his wicket after a misunderstanding while taking a run. Vasavada who was on 49 then didn’t loose his composure.
Jani’s dream run
With Chirag Jani (51, 143b, 6x4, 1x6) continuing his dream run, Vasavada ensured that the duo kept the scoreboard ticking to take the game away from Gujarat.
By the time Jani perished to Chintan Gaja off the second new ball, Vasavada had notched up his hundred and nearly taken Saurashtra to safety. His 434-minute vigil was finally over when he perished to Arzan Nagwaswalla’s short-ball ploy as Saurashtra’s innings came to an end.
Butter fingers
Gujarat, though, had themselves to blame. The pacers’ short-ball ploy came too late and butter fingers didn’t help their cause.
Rujul Bhatt spilling an edge at slip off Sakariya on the third evening turned out to be the costliest. Sakariya and Vasavada added 90 runs.
The scores:
Saurashtra — 1st innings: 304.
Gujarat — 1st innings: 252.
Saurashtra — 2nd innings: Harvik Desai c Gohel b Gaja 0, Kishan Parmar c Raval b Gaja 0, Avi Barot c Gandhi b Gaja 1, Vishwaraj Jadeja b Gaja 6, Chetan Sakariya run out 45, Sheldon Jackson c Bhatt b Gaja 0, Arpit Vasavada c Gandhi b Vasavada 139, Chirag Jani c Gohel b Gaja 51, Prerak Mankad c Raval b Gaja 1, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja c Raval b Nagwaswalla 21, Jaydev Unadkat (not out) 0; Extras (lb-7, w-3); Total (in 98.4 overs): 274.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-1, 3-4, 4-15, 5-15, 6-105, 7-214, 8-222, 9-263.
Gujarat bowling: Kalaria 26-11-36-0, Gaja 23-6-71-7, Nagwaswalla 19.4-3-75-2, Bhatt 7-0-24-0, Axar 23-3-61-0.
Gujarat — 2nd innings: Samit Gohel (batting) 5, Priyank Panchal c Dharmendrasinh b Unadkat 0, Bhargav Merai (batting) 1; Extras (w-1): 1; Total (for one wkt. in 9 overs): 7.
Fall of wicket: 1-1.
Saurashtra bowling: Unadkat 5-3-6-1, Sakariya 3-2-1-0, Dharmendrasinh 1-1-0-0.