Pujara and Saha stitched an unbeaten 316-run stand for the fifth wicket — the second highest partnership in Irani Cup for any wicket. Rest’s captain Pujara was all praise for the wicketkeeper-batsman
The Rest of India team pose with the Irani Cup after defeating Gujarat by six wickets at Brabourne Stadium yesterday. Pics/Suresh Karkera
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Rest of India (RoI) skipper Cheteshwar Pujara gave himself a sweet birthday gift one day in advance. He scored an unbeaten 116 and guided his team to a six-wicket win over Gujarat in the Irani Cup an hour before lunch on the final day at Brabourne Stadium yesterday.
RoI wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha, who was batting on 123 overnight, again showcased his batting skills by remaining unbeaten on 203, his highest score in first-class cricket.
Marathon innings
Saha faced 272 balls and hit 26 boundaries and six sixes during his marathon knock. The Bengal glovesman reached his double century with a back foot punch to the cover boundary off spinner Karan Patel. Pujara and Saha stitched an unbeaten 316-run stand for the fifth wicket — the second highest partnership in Irani Cup for any wicket. Rest’s captain Pujara was all praise for the wicketkeeper-batsman.
“It isn’t easy to chase 379 after losing four early wickets. With the bowlers on top, at one stage I felt we might lose the game. But when Wriddhi (Saha) came in and started hitting the ball cleanly, I too got a lot of confidence.
“The moment we had a partnership going we saw the Gujarat bowlers’ shoulders drop, and even Parthiv (Patel) was getting frustrated. We knew if we keep building the partnership, we have a chance,” said the skipper.
Guj attack lack experience
Captain of the losing team Parthiv, said the RoI batting was too good for his inexperienced bowling attack which was without their three main seamers — RPâÂu00c2u0080Âu00c2u0088Singh, Rush Kalaria and Jasprit Bumrah — this season.
“RP and Rush were out with minor injuries, and Jassi (Bumrah) was obviously going to be missed so we had no option but to go with this attack,” said Parthiv.
“As a captain, defending 379 I would have liked to have all our main bowlers, but overall, I felt that all of them did a decent job. To get this kind of a batting line-up out for 220 in the first innings and then reduce them to 63-4 at one stage in the second innings, was highly creditable. It’s a good learning curve for them,” added Parthiv.
Heroes of Rest of India’s win, skipper Cheteshwar Pujara and ’keeper Wriddhiman Saha with the Irani Cup at Brabourne Stadium yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
316*
Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha’s unbroken stand for the fifth wicket is the second highest in the Irani Cup
Brief scores
Gujarat 358 & 246 lost to Rest of India 226 & 379-4 (C Pujara 116*, W Saha 203*; Hardik Patel 2-104) by 6 wkts
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