Irani Trophy: Saurashtra bowled for lowest total in tournament history, Rest of India win by 175 runs

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Saurashtra were bowled out 79 - the lowest-ever total in the history of Irani Trophy - as Hanuma Vihari-led Rest of India registered a thumping 175 runs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Tuesday.

After being set a 255-run target on Day 3, left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar wreaked havoc, picking six wickets for just 43 runs in 16.3 overs to help Rest of India wrap up Saurashtra innings in just 34.3 overs.

Saurabh dismissed five of Saurashtra' top five batters. Veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara (7), who walked in to bat at four, was dismissed by another left-arm spinner Shams Mulani who registered figures of 3/22 on the Rajkot rank-turner which saw fall of 21 wickets on Tuesday.

UP's Rest of India spinner Saurabh, who has been a regular in India A squad, had match figures of 10/108 (4/65 and 6/43) and his effort trumped opposition’s Parth Bhut, who finished on losing side despite taking 12/147 (5/94 and 7/53).

This was a game where left-arm spinners from both the sides collectively picked 33 of the 40 wickets.

The third day started with Saurashtra resuming their first innings at 212 for 9 and were soon all-out for 214, leaving RoI with a decisive first innings lead of 94.

On a track where survival was difficult, a lead of near 100 was as good as 250 on any other surface.

The Rest of India, in their second innings, also struggled and were all-out for 160, losing the last nine wickets for 43 runs.

N Sai Sudharsan (43 off 104 balls) and veteran Mayank Agarwal (49 off 93 balls) added 85 for the first wicket but from 117 for 1, the slump was sudden with India aspirants Sarfaraz Khan (13) and Yash Dhull (5) failing for the second time in the match.

Sarfaraz played three back-to-back sweeps and then went for a non-existent reverse sweep to a delivery pitched on off-middle line.

Seven Rest of India batters failed to reach double figures but the cushion of 94 proved to be the clincher.

Saurashtra batters found it difficult to survive and once left-arm spinner Shams Mulani trapped Cheteshwar Pujara (7) with an arm ball, the home team’s resistance ended.

Some deliveries turned and jumped while a few kept low and Saurabh just ran through the Saurashtra line-up.

Brief Scores: Rest of India 308 and 160 in 52 overs (Mayank Agarwal 49, N Sai Sudharsan 43, Parth Bhut 7/53).

Saurashtra 214 and (target 255) 79 in 34.3 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 7, Saurabh Kumar 6/43)

(With inputs from PTI)