The Ranji Trophy Plate Division final between Railways and Gujarat this year may well be remembered more for its run drought than its eventual result.
After only 202 runs were scored in the opening day on Saturday, Sunday was even slower. The day saw 198 runs from the blade of both the teams combined.
And if Railways were slow, then Gujarat was slower, scoring just 140/2 in reply to Railways first innings total of 260.
The snail's pace at which Gujarat's innings progressed can be judged from the fact that they scored only 49 runs in the post-lunch session and 76 in the post-tea session, losing two wickets in the process.
The first session witnessed 73 runs being scored with Gujarat's contribution in that figure being only 15.
However, in the process captain Parthiv Patel (52) did combine with Nilesh Modi (66 not out) to put on an 87-run partnership for the second wicket and ensure Gujarat go into the third day with an upper hand.
Modi also was involved in a 53-run opening wicket stand with Rajesh Tabiar (14), whose laboured innings (off 104 balls) came to an end when former India player Sanjay Bangar had him caught behind.
Patel left with just two overs left in the day, bowled by Santosh Saxena.
Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 202/7 Railways added 58 runs before their innings folded up. Harshad Rawle (110) scored a much deserved century and was involved in a 44-run ninth wicket partnership with Saxena (30) to give the total a semblance of respectability.
Mohnish Parmar, with figures of 4/63, was the pick of Gujarat bowlers while captain Patel snapped up five victims behind the stumps.
Scorecard:
Railways (1st innings, overnight 202/7):
S Bangar c P Patel b Makda 26
S Joshi c T Patel b Trivedi 0
K Sharma c T Patel b Trivedi 8
H Rawle c P Patel b Singh 110
S Sanyal lbw b Parmar 16
M Rawat c P Patel b Singh 24
R Ali c P Patel b Parmar 17
M Kartik st P Patel b Parmar 1
H Singh b Parmar 14
S Saxena c P Patel b T Patel 30
K Parida not out 0
Extras: (b 2, lb 6, w 3, nb 3) 14
Total: (all out in 111.3 overs) 260
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-18, 3-67, 4-106, 5-142, 6-180, 7-182, 8-210, 9-254, 10-260
Bowling: S Trivedi 28-13-60-2, A Makda 23-7-59-1, A Singh 19-6-34-2, T Patel 13.3-5-36-1, M Parmar 28-7-63-4
Gujarat (1st innings):
N Modi not out 66
R Tabiar c Rawat b Bangar 14
P Patel b Saxena 52
M Parmar not out 0
Extras: (nb 8) 8
Total: (for 2 wickets in 66 overs) 140
Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-140
Bowling: H Singh 12-5-24-0, S Bangar 19-7-22-1, S Sanyal 5- 1-15-0, S Saxena 13-6-22-1, M Kartik 11-2-32-0, K Parida 6-1-25-0
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