Gujarat, Orissa share honours on Day One.
Critics term Parthiv Patel unlucky for being unable to break into Team India. The diminutive batsman from Ahmedabad showed a lot of character as a batsman last season, piling up the runs. In the last two Ranji competitions, Parthiv has scored more than 600 runs in each.
Parthiv (83 off 128b; 10x4), who smashed a double hundred against Orissa last year, looked in sublime touch as Gujarat commenced its Ranji Trophy campaign against SS Das and Co at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Navrangpura on Tuesday. Gujarat were 237 for seven at the end of the first day of their match on a wicket that was a bit slow. Electing to bat first, the Gujarat captain had to take fresh guard when his side was struggling at 35 for two, losing Jay Desai (0) in the very first over bowled by former India seamer Debashish Mohanty. Niraj Patel contributed 18 before taking the long walk to the dressing room.
In the company of opener Hem Joshipura (36 off 136 balls; 5x4), Parthiv started to build the innings by rotating the strike.
His trademark shots through the off side clearly indicated that the wicketkeeper-batsman has the aptitude to be in the top league. A straight drive off pacer Basanth Mohanty and some elegant cuts off left-arm spinner Dhiraj Singh provided evidence that he is still Team India material. And of course, he has graduated to maturity, developing an attribute to bail his team out of a muddle.
Joshipura showed his ability to bat at the top of the order with a back-foot punch off spinner Paresh Patel. At lunch, Gujarat were 77 for two. Just when it looked like the home side had overcome the bad patch, Joshipura was castled by Debashish again.
Parthiv completed his 50 and yet another first-class century looked on the cards. But as often seen, tea was nearing and he lost focus for a fraction of a second. The result: he ballooned a catch to Rakesh Mohanty at midwicket, who graciously accepted it, Dhiraj being the beneficiary. Later, Parthiv admitted, "I was middling the ball well. Just one bad ball and I was back in the pavilion. Had I stayed, it would have been a good day for us. We lost a couple of wickets more."
Meanwhile, Rujul Bhatt made an impressive first-class debut. His contribution of 46 runs, including six boundaries, helped Gujarat go past the 200 mark. When he left the scene, Orissa had reduced Gujarat to 203 for seven. But a late assault from Ashraf Makda (31 off 23; 4x6; 1x4) salvaged some pride of the home team. Timil Patel was giving him company at the other end. Dhiraj Singh (4/88) was most successful bowler for the visitors.
Brief scores: Gujarat: 237/7 (P Patel 83, R Bhatt 46; D Singh 4/88) v Orissa
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}