It looks like young Shivam Mavi can give the Australian bowlers a tip or two. And why not? The Uttar Pradesh pacer managed to do what the Australian bowlers could not do for majority of the Test series Down Under. He took the prized wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara while the batsman was on 11, before the hosts reduced Saurashtra to 170 for seven on day two of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final in Lucknow on Wednesday, 16 January.
Pujara, who has just returned after a stellar showing in Australia where he scored three hundreds to help India win their maiden Test series Down Under, lasted only 28 balls, and his innings comprised two fours.
Uttar Pradesh, resuming day two at 340 for seven, went on to make 385 all out in 103.3 overs with Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat taking a five-wicket haul.
The home team's pacers – Mavi (3/39), Ankit Rajpoot (2/58), and Yash Dayal (2/35) – then ripped through the visitors' batting. Saurashtra trail Uttar Pradesh by 215 runs going into day three.
While Rajpoot struck off successive balls to reduce the opposition to 35 for two, Mavi took two off two towards the end of the day including the wicket of opener Harvik Desai, the innings-top scorer so far with 84.
Prerak Mankad frustrated Uttar Pradesh with an unbeaten 42 and was batting alongside Dharmendrasinh Jadeja at stumps.
(With inputs from PTI)
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