A maiden century from Vishal Jayswal, playing his only second First-Class match, helped Gujarat seize the initiative on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy match against Vidarbha at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium on Wednesday. At stumps, Gujarat were 281-6 in 86 overs with Jayswal batting on 110 and captain Chintan Gaja giving him company on 43. Jayswal played aggressively to score his century after Vidarbha pacers had reduced Gujarat to 98-5 and then 150 for 6 in 50 overs. The left-handed Jayswal bailed out his side from a precarious position with two crucial partnerships. He first put up 52 runs for the sixth wicket with opener Priyank Panchal, who too hit an excellent 88, and then added undefeated 131 runs with captain Chintan Gaja (43*) to take the Day One honours. Vidarbha’s decision to bowl first on the hard deck after captain Akshay Wadkar won fifth toss on the trot, was justified to some extent as pacers bowled brilliantly in the opening session taking three wickets for 85 runs. Praful Hinge was the most successful bowler of the day with three scapls while Nachiket Bhute took two and Aditya Thakare one.

 

 

There was hardly any assistance from the pitch for the spinners and all the six wickets that fell on the day went to pacers. Jayswal, who battled cramps, targetted spinners Dubey and Wakhare. Gujarat batters scored 130 runs from their combined 36 overs. Panchal took advantage of two dropped catches, one by Yash Rathod and then by Wadkar in the morning, as he resurrected Gujarat’s innings with a fine half century. Jayswal’s arrival in the middle changed the complexion of the game with the left-handed batter mixing caution with aggression and asserting the bowlers. He did not let Vidarbha bowlers dominate and had special treatment for the spinners. Post tea session, runs started flowing from the blades of captain Gaja and Jayswal.

 

The 26-year-old Jayswal had all shots in his armoury as he used his feet well against fast bowlers and punched the spinners. Gaja gave Jayswal company but did not sit back at the other end. He also targeted the spinners hitting them for a couple of boundaries. Seamer Praful Hinge gave Vidarbha early breakthrough taking the wicket of in-form Aarya Desai (0) in the third over of the day. New-man Manan Hingrajia was beaten by pace from an Aditya Thakare delivery in the eighth over and was sent back for one. Fast bowlers, who were overshadowed by the spinners in last four matches, generated enough pace to take six wic

kets as Vidarbha reduced Gujarat at 85-3. Bhute, too, bowled brilliantly using bouncers but Jayswal had other plans.