Saxena helps Rajasthan to healty total

Opener Vinit Saxena (80) and new skipper Rahul Kanwat (65) helped Rajasthan reach a respectable score of 246 for 8 on the opening day of the 'Elite' Group B Ranji Trophy match against Gujarat at the K L Saini Stadium in Jaipur on Tuesday.

Anup Dave (14) and Kishan Choudhary (10) were at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day, which also saw Rajasthan skipper Krishnakumar step down from captiancy dramatically in the morning

Rahul was asked to step in and he responded to the new responsibilty well with a half-century.

Put in to bat after Gujarat won the toss, Rajasthan openers Vinit and Gagan Khoda negotiated the new ball well but the momentum was disrupted as Khoda hurt his knee and returned to pavilion with the score reading 33 for no loss.

Anshu Jain came in at number three but failed to stay at the wicket for long as he was duped by an incoming ball from Shyamal Bhatt. Nikhil Doru (1), returning to the team after missing one match, too did not last long.

The hosts were 79 for 2 at lunch with Vinit and Krishnakumar at the crease. Krishna batted well for his 17 before he fell to Bhatt.

Rajasthan lost Khoda (24) who came back to bat at number 4 and Pankaj Gupta (1) and were 91 for 5 at one stage. But a 94-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Vinit (80 runs, 215 balls,9 fours) and Rahul (65 runs, 105 balls, 9 fours one six) steadied the Rajasthan innings.

For Gujarat, Bhatt (3 for 45), Lalit Patel (2 for 51), Siddartha Trivedi (2 for 43) and Bhavi Mehta (one for 46 were the successful bowlers.

Scoreboard:
Rajasthan (1st innings):
Vinit Saxena c Thakkar b Mehta 80
Gagan Khoda c Thakkar b I Patel 24
Anshu Jain lbw Bhatt 4
Nikhil Doru c Modi b Trivedi 1
P Krishnakumar lbw l Patel 17
Pankaj Gupta c Parmar b S Bhatt 1
Rahul Kanwat b Trivedi 65
Rohit Jhalani lbw Bhatt 20
Anup Dave batting 14
Kishan Choudhary batting 10

Extras: (lb-10) 10

Total: (for 8 wkts in 90 overs) 246

Fall of wickets: 1-40, 2-49, 3-79, 4-82, 5-91, 6-185, 7-220, 8-220.

Bowling: Lalit Patel 24-8-51-2, Siddartha Trivedi 18-6-43-2, Shymal Bhatt 16-4-45-3, Bhavin Mehta 17-4-46-1, Timil Patel 14-1-25-0, Kirat Damani 11-1-26-0.