Experienced middle order batsman Sitanshu Kotak and young Cheteshwar Pujara cracked unbeaten half centuries to help Saurashtra score a healthy 284 for 3 against Delhi on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy elite division match in Rajkot on Monday.

• Ranji Trophy 2006-07

Delhi skipper Mithun Manhas invited Saurashtra to bat on an easy track at the Madhavrao Scindia cricket ground.

Fast bowler Ashish Nehra made early inroads when he removed opener Kanaiya Vaghela (17) and first down Prashant Joshi who went to pavilion without opening his account.

But Jogiyani 61 (122b, 10x4) stitched in the innings with Kotak (92 not out) as the duo added 76 runs for the third wicket before Jogiyani was clean bowled by Ishant Sharma.

Kotak and Pujara (85 not out) then came together and added 150 runs for the unfinished fourth wicket.

Kotak completed his fifty off 125 balls with eight fours, while his young batting partner was aggressive and reached the 50-run mark off just 68 balls.

However, Pujara was lucky to be dropped at second slip off Sharma late in the day when he was on 84. He hit fourteen boundaries while Kotak, who played 258 balls, struck eleven fours.

For Delhi, Nehra was the most successful bowler taking two for 79 while right arm medium pacer Ishant took one wicket conceding 72 runs.

Scorecard:

Saurashtra 1st innings:
Kanaiya Vaghela c P Bisht b A Nehra          17
Sagar Jogiyani bowled I Sharma               61
Prashant Joshi  lbw  A Nehra                 00
Sitanshu Kotak batting                       92
Cheteshwar Pujara  batting                   85
Extras (b-1, lb-3, nb-25)                    29
Total for (3 wickets in 90 overs)           284

Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-58, 3-134.

Bowling: Ashish Nehra 23-7-79-2, Ishant Sharma 18-3-72-1, Amit Bhandari 13-2-39-0, Rajat Bhatia 4-1-4-0, Sohail Sharma 24-4-58-0, Mithun Minhas 8-0-28-0.