Riding on a splendid bowling show by Chirag Khurana, Maharashtra look set for an outright win after reducing Saurashtra to 53 for four in their second innings on the penultimate day of a Group B Ranji Trophy cricket match here today.
The visitors amassed a massive 519 in their first innings and then bundled out the hosts for 273. Maharashtra skipper Rohit Motwani opted to enforce the follow-on.
In their second innings, Saurashtra lost four wickets with just 53 runs on the board, and now face a herculean task of avoiding an innings defeat.
First innings centurion for the hosts Sheldon Jackson, who is yet to open his account, and Vishal Joshi (2) were at the crease at the end of Day 3 of the four-day match at SCA Stadium in Khandheri.
Earlier, resuming at their overnight score of 94 for 3, Saurashtra kept losing wickets at regular intervals and folded up at 273.
Jackson, who has made back-to-back centuries against Gujarat and Punjab this season, notched up his third straight ton. He made a 123-ball 102, punctuated with 10 fours and four sixes and occupied the crease for nearly three hours.
Saurya Sanandiya (40) and Kamlesh Makawana (30) were the other notable contributors with the bat for the hosts.
For Maharashtra, off-spinner Khurana was the wrecker-in-chief, taking five wickets for 70. He was supported well by Akshay Darekar, who claimed 3 for 89.
Starting with a deficit of 246 runs, Saurashtra again struggled. Skipper Jaydev Shah, who is battling poor form, decided to open the innings with Bhushan Chauhan, but made only seven runs.
Darekar removed Sagar Jogiyani (18) and Saurya Sanandiya (0) in a quick succession to put his team in driver's seat.
Brief Scores:
Maharashtra: 519.
Saurashtra: 273 (Sheldon Jackson 102, Saurya Sanandiya 40; Chirag Khurana 5/70, Akshay Darekar 3/89) and 53 for 4 in 22 overs (Bhushan Chauhan 21, Sagar Jogiyani 18; Akshay Darekar 2/8).
