Sandip Jobanputra scalped five Rajasthan batsmen to put Saurashtra in the driver's seat in the Ranji Trophy Plate division final on the fourth day in Rajkot on Saturday.
After taking a healthy first innings lead of 207 runs, Saurashtra reduced Rajasthan to 99 for five at the close of play.
It was an all-around effort by Saurashtra seamer Sandip Jobanputra, who struck a crucial half-century, that helped his side tighten the noose around the visitors.
After conceding a huge lead, Rajasthan were in deep trouble in their second essay losing five wickets for 99 runs. Their hopes are now rest on the two unbeaten batsmen, captain Ajay Jadeja (21, 56b, 3x4s) and Dishant Yagnik (21, 51b, 3x4s).
After frustrating the visitors with his batting skills, Jobanputra ran through the Rajasthan top order claiming five for 44 in his 12-over opening spell.
Opener Mithun Beerala and Rohit Sharma were clean bowled for 9 and 10 runs respectively, while Nikhil Doru was trapped plumb in front of the wicket on his individual score of 18.
International Gagan Khoda fell to Jobanputra before opening his account while Rahul Kanwat, who denied the bowler a hat-trick, failed to offer much resistance.
Earlier, Saurashtra resuming at their overnight score of 250 for 6, notched up another 158 runs with the help of skipper Jaydev Shah (83, 123b, 15x4s) and Benson Songaonkar (52, 187b, 4x4s). Jobanputra coming at number ten frustrated the visitors with his half-century (54, 98b, 3x4s, 2x6s).
For Rajasthan, Pankaj Singh and Afroz Khan captured three wickets each.
Scorecard:
Rajasthan first innings: 201.
Saurashtra first innings: (overnight 250 for 6)
Kanaiya vaghela c Yagnik b S Gehlot 34
Sagar Jogiyani c Yagnik b A Khan 58
Prashant Joshi c Yagnik b A Khan 00
Jaydev Shah c beerala b R Kanwat 83
Shitanshu Kotak c Yagnik b R Kanwat 10
Nikhil Rathod c Yagnik b G Khoda 31
Benson Songaonkar c Yagnik b P Singh 52
Rakesh Dhruv lbw a Khan 06
Kamlesh Makwana c Yagnik b P Singh 39
Sandip Jobanputra c Jadeja b P Singh 54
Sandip Maniar not out 12
Extras (b-6,lb-2,nb-19,w-2) 29
Total (all out in 157.2 overs) 408
Fall of wickets 1-85, 2-89, 3-109, 4-170, 5-211, 6-226, 7-28 8-323, 9-349, 10-408.
Bowling: Shailendra Gehlot, 34-8-93-1, Pankaj Singh 39.2-9-114-3, Mohmmad Aslam 19-6-35-0, Afroz Khan 33-5-86-3, Rahul Kanwat 22-8-36-2, Rohit Sharma 5-1-29-0, Ajay Jadeja 3-0-5-0, Gagan Khoda 2-0-2-1.
Rajasthan 2nd innings:
Mithun Beerala b S Jobanputra 09
Rohit Sharma b S Jobanputra 10
Nikhil Doru lbw S Jobanputra 18
Gagan Khoda c S Jogiyani b S Jobanputra 00
Rahul Kanwat c S Kotak b s Jobanputra 08
Dishant Yagnik not out 21
Ajay Jadeja not out 21
Extras (lb-6,w-2,nb-4) 12
Total (for 5 wickets in 33 overs) 99
Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-33, 3-33, 4-43, 5-64
Bowling: Sandip Maniar 13-3-40-0, Sandip Jobanputra 14-3-44-5 Rakesh Dhruv 4-1-7-0, Kamlesh Makwana 2-0-2-0.
