Sitanshu Kotak stands firm against Delhi’s assail

Nov 17: Saurashtra needs only 69 runs to gain first innings lead with three wickets remaining

Old hand always comes handy when you needed it most as the 35-year old Sitanshu Kotak turned out to be the loner fighter for Saurashtra against formidable Delhi attack keeping the chances of its team afloat in getting first innings lead in the Ranji Trophy Elite league match at the Roshanara Club ground here on Friday.

Riding on the Kotak’s patient knock of 77 Saurashtra was 175/7 at the close of second day’s play. The proceedings of the match had to be called off before time due to bad light with the visitors are still needing 70 runs to get past Delhi's first innings total of 244.

Saurashtra had a disastrous start, as Delhi lanky pacer Ishant Sharma uprooted opener Kanaiya Vaghela’s off stump in the third delivery of the innings. Other opener Sagar Jogiyani reached to 25 in quick time before being the second victim of Ishant. He edged one to second slip where Aakash Chopra made no mistake to pouch it.

The visitors kept losing wickets at regular intervals, while Kotak held the fort from the other side. The southpaw stayed for more than five hours at the crease playing 203 deliveries and hitting only ten boundaries during his knock. He stood like a rock and added 73 runs for the fifth wicket with P S Mehta (27) propelling Saurashtra innings.

Bhatia was the most effective among the Delhi bowlers as he picked the crucial wickets of Kotak, in-form Cheteshwar Pujara (11, 1 x 4) and Shah (0), giving away only nine runs in his 13 overs.

He kept a nagging line and length in his entire spell. He stuck to his line and was finally rewarded by Kotak’s wicket, as the left-hander had finally losing out his patience slashing a wide ball towards Shikhar Dhawan at gully.

SCORECARD

Delhi First innings: 244

Saurashtra First innings: K. Vaghela b Ishant 3, S. Jogiyani c Chopra b Ishant 25, S. Kotak c Dhawan b Bhatia 77, C. Pujara lbw b Bhatia 11, J. Shah c Bisht b Bhatia 0, P. Mehta c Bisht b Bhandari 27, R. Jadeja c Bisht b Sangwan 1, R. Dhruv (batting) 12, Extras (b-7, lb-4, nb-6, w-2) 19, Total (for seven wickets in 77.2 overs) 175.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-61, 3-83, 4-83, 5-156, 6-156, 7-175.

Delhi Bowling: P. Sangwan 20.2-3-55-1, Ishant Sharma 21-4-61-2 , A. Bhandari 14-7-22=971, R. Bhatia 13