New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) Saurashtra opener Chirag Pathak smashed his second ton in as many matches on a lively track before Delhi bowlers fought back to pack off the visitors for 328 in the first innings on day one of their Ranji Trophy Super League match at the Roshanara Club ground here Tuesday.
Pathak (138) and Cheteshwar Pujara (83) added 160-runs after Delhi’s four-pronged pace attack reduced Saurashtra to 3-101. The visitors, however, lost their way once Rajat Bhatia (2-53) got the breakthrough, dismissing Pujara lbw.

Saurashtra lost seven wickets for 77 runs in 17 overs with left arm seamer Pradeep Sangwan (3-71) and Parvinder Awana (2-63) doing the damage.

At stumps, Delhi were 22 for no loss with debutant Ankur Julka (7) and Aditya Jain (15) at the crease after play ended five overs short due to poor light.

Earlier, Delhi received a setback in the morning when its celebrated pacer Ashish Nehra failed to turn up after being reportedly down with food poisoning.

Delhi’s pace attack of Sumit Narwal, Sangwan, Awana and Pawan Suyal (2-86) tried their best but could do little to take advantage of the early morning conditions.

Saurashtra openers Pathak and Sagar Jogiyani started on an attacking note as the former clobbered Sangwan for three boundaries in the sixth over.

The two scored at a brisk pace with a run-rate of over five as they added 64 runs for before Jogiyani was trapped in front by Awana for 26. His 57-ball innings came with four boundaries.

Delhi was then lifted by the twin strikes of left-arm seamer Suyal who dismissed Shitanshu Kotak and Jaydev Shah within three balls in 16th over to reduce the visitors to 101 for three.

However, Pathak and Cheteshwar Pujara unleashed a flurry of boundaries to stun the pacers. The counterattack paid off as Saurashtra reached 150 for three in 30 overs at lunch.

Pathak was spectacular in his strokeplay and Pujara, with already a century to his name this season, had to contend with the role of a second foil. Pathak, who scored 118 in the last match against Bengal, hit the only six of the day off Bhatia to reach to 98 before bringing up his century in just 112 balls with 15 fours.

Pujara’s 50 came in 99 balls with nine boundaries.

Bhatia, however, proved to be the bane for both, trapping Pujara leg before and then returned to dismiss Pathak to trigger the collapse.

Pathak’s 164-ball innings was studded with 21 fours and a six while Pujara took 134 balls and 15 fours for his 180 minute knock.