It was a good day for the crowd as both Saurashtra and Karnataka played entertaining cricket. A huge 343 runs were scored in 89.5 overs on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite group A match here at the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium on Thursday.After the visitors made an imposing 570, Saurashtra responded in sheer style to end the day at 103 for no loss, raising the chance for a possible comeback for the hosts on Friday. The star of Saurashtra’s batting was Sagar Jogiyani. The opener seemed to have started from where he left in the last match against Haryana where he scored a match-winning 92 in the second innings.He was in an attacking mood right from the start today, with gutsy shots around the wicket. In the seventh over he hooked Vinay Kumar for maximum result. And he brought off his second consecutive fifty with a boundary off Raju Bhatkal, dissecting point and cover. His unbeaten 62 of 56 balls saw four hits to the fence and one six. Giving him company at the other end is Kanaiya Vaghela (32).Earlier, resuming at 329 for 4, the tourists began tentatively, losing their fifth wicket in the fifth over when Sandip Maniyar induced an edge from Thilak Naidu’s blade. They lost two more quick wickets to be at 394 for 7, giving Saurashtra hopes to begin their innings early. But that was not to be as Karnataka captain Yere Goud was steady at one end, while Bhatkhal was having a go at the bowlers. The two stitched a 64-run eighth wicket partnership, of which Bhatkhal’s contribution was 42.At the same score, the touring side lost one more wicket, and it appeared that former Railways’ player Goud would remain stranded at 90s. But Udit Patel (35) gave him good support as Goud began to open his shoulders. He hit Kamlesh Makwana for four to bring up his first century for Karnataka. He remained unbeaten on 171, which was fashioned with 20 boundaries and one six.They put on 112 runs on the board for the last wicket.Brief scores: Karnataka 570 (Y Goud not out 171, K Makwana 3/192, S Maniyar 2/114) vs Saurashtra 103 for no loss (S Jogiyani batting 62, K Vaghela batting 32).
