Joshi, Unadkat put Saurashtra in sight of lead

Vishal Joshi (4-59) and Jaydev Unadkat (3-52) combined to reduce Punjab to 294 for 9 on the third day of the Ranji Trophy semi-final in Rajkot on Friday and assure Saurashtra a huge first innings lead.

Replying to Saurashtra's first innings total of 477, Punjab started the day on 41 for no loss but could add another just 253 runs for the loss of nine wickets.

- Rain washes out Day 3 in Mumbai-Services Ranji semi-final

Punjab got off a great start, the two overnight batsmen -- Jiwanjot Singh and Ravi Inder Singh – dominating the pre-lunch session, adding another 87 runs to take their opening stand to 128 before the latter departed.

Ravi Inder, who resumed on 30, was out for a well-made 74 off 131 balls, studded with 11 fours and two sixes.

Jiwanjot continued in the able company of Taruwar Kohli, but Joshi saw off the opener for 168-ball 68, including 11 boundaries.

Punjab, however, were comfortably placed at the stroke of tea on 246 for three before a sudden collapse in the last session of the day pushed them on the backfoot.

The post-tea session proved fruitful for the hosts as they picked six wickets for just 48 runs. From 252 for 4 at one stage, Punjab slumped to 287 for nine.

The dramatic collapse occurred when Uday Kaul went for an unnecessary single and was run-out. Off the next ball, Taruwar tried to pull Unadkat's rising delivery only to get a thick edge that Sitanshu Kotak took comfortably at first slip.

Taruwar scored 59.

Amitoz Singh (4), Bipul Sharma (4), Siddharth Kaul (1) and Sandip Sharma (2) soon returned to the pavilion even as off-spinner Joshi and left-arm leg spinner Unadkat wrecked havoc.

Punjab still trail Saurashtra by 183 runs with just one wicket in hand.

At stumps, Harbhajan Singh was unbeaten on 29 in the company of Sarabjit Ladda, who is yet to open his account.

Brief scores:

Saurashtra: 477 all out in 155 overs (Sheldon Jackson 107, Jaydev Shah 87, Kamlesh Makwana 85, Vishal Joshi not out 55; Sarabjit Ladda 3-109, Siddharth Kaul 3-119, Harbhajan Singh 2-102).

Punjab: 294 for 9 (Ravi Inder Singh 74, Jiwanjot Singh 68, Taruwar Kohli 59; Vishal Joshi 4-59, Jaydev Unadkat 3-52).