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Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Jackson 160, Vasavada 112* deflate Karnataka

Sheldon Jackson celebrates his century PTI

Saurashtra 364 for 4 (Jackson 160, Vasavada 112*, Kaverappa 2-64) trail Karnataka 407 (Agarwal 249, Sakariya 3-73) by 43 runs

A fourth-wicket partnership of 232 between centurions Sheldon Jackson (160) and captain Arpit Vasavada (112*) spearheaded Saurashtra's charge in their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Karnataka in Bengaluru.

After scoring 407, achieved mainly due to Mayank Agarwal's marathon 248, Karnataka had Saurashtra wobbling at 92 for 3 half hour into play on the third day. Then, they ran into Jackson and Vasavada, who battled for a better part of the day to run them ragged. Saurashtra ended day three on 364 for 4, trailing by just 43 runs.

Vasavada has Chirag Jani (19*) for company in their quest to take the lead. With just two days remaining, Saurashtra will fancy their chances of entering their second final in three seasons given they bat till No. 10. The pitch hasn't deteriorated as much as Karnataka's bowlers would've liked, and the swing and seam movement that was on offer for much of the first day has given way to easier batting conditions since.

Harvik Desai fell in the fifth over of play when he was struck plumb in front by V Koushik for 33. That was the only bit of joy for Karnataka in the first two sessions as Jackson counterattacked at every available opportunity. At the other end, Vasavada, who was hit on the helmet on nought and then had to be cleared for concussion, took his time to get his eye in before opening up to play some wonderful shots, especially against spin.

Particularly impressive was his ability to step out and hit against the turn off Gowtham. Jackson fell for 160 with an hour to go for stumps when he played back to a sharp-turner from Gowtham that kept low to strike him in front of middle.

By then, he'd defied Karnataka's attack, scoreboard pressure, serious sledging, a bump-catch appeal that the hosts celebrated and some cramps on a moderately hot day to put Saurashtra in a commanding position.

Saurashtra 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st1SS PatelHM Desai
2nd19HM DesaiVM Jadeja
3rd15SP JacksonVM Jadeja
4th5AV VasavadaVM Jadeja
5th2AV VasavadaCS Jani
6th63AV VasavadaC Sakariya
7th12AV VasavadaPN Mankad

Ranji Trophy

Elite, Group A
TeamMWLDPT
BENG741232
UKHND730429
HP721421
BRODA721421
ODSA712414
UP712413
HRYNA712413
NAGA70522
Elite, Group B
TeamMWLDPT
AP742126
MAHA730426
SAU732226
MUM732224
TN721421
DELHI722317
ASSAM713311
HYD70611
Elite, Group C
TeamMWLDPT
KNTKA740335
JHK732223
KER731321
RAJ722320
CGR734019
GOA722318
SVCS724113
PONDI71519
Elite, Group D
TeamMWLDPT
MP751133
PNJB730427
RLYS732222
VIDAR732220
GUJ724114
TPURA702511
J + K71428
CHD70257
Plate Group
TeamMWLDPT
MEGHA541025
SIKM531120
MNPR531120
BIHAR511314
MIZO51318
ARP50500