Darekar guides Maha to innings victory over Saurashtra

Left-arm orthodox bowler Akshay Darekar picked up an impressive 10-wicket haul in the game, including seven in the second innings, to guide Maharashtra to an easy innings and 48 runs win over Saurashtra in a Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match, here today.
Darekar, who picked up three wickets in the first innings, returned with figures of seven for 72 to single-handedly demolish the Sauratshtra in their second essay.
After piling up a mammoth 519 in their first innings, Maharashtra bowled out Saurashtra for 273 to enforce the follow on.
But Saurashtra's batting line crumbled in the second innings and were eventually bowled out for meagre 198 runs in 87.4 overs.

Saurashtra were already in trouble in their second innings after Maharashtra bowlers reduced the hosts to 53 for four at stumps yesterday.
It needed a Herculean effort from the remaining six Saurashtra batsmen to save the match, which never came.

Arpit Vasavada showed some resistance with a patient 76 off 188 balls, while Sheldon Jackson made a strokeful 42. But their efforts were too little too late to save the match.
Besides Darekar, Swapnil Gugale (1/2) and Chirag Khurana (1/92) picked up a wicket each.
The win gave Maharashtra seven points from the match, including bonus points.
Brief Scores:
Maharashtra: 519 all out in 150.5 overs

Saurashtra: 273 & 198 all out in 87.4 overs (Arpit Vasavada 76; Akshay Darekar 7/72).