Medium-pacer Chintan Gaja grabbed a five-wicket haul before Gujarat stretched their overall lead to a mammoth 587 runs against Goa in their Ranji Trophy quarter-final here on Saturday.
On the third day, led by the 25-year-old Gaja (5-19), Gujarat came up with a clinical performance to bowl out Goa for a meagre 173 in 57.5 overs.
However, skipper Parthiv Patel decided not to enforce the follow-on and at stumps, Gujarat had an overall lead of 587 runs.
With two days to go, Goa would need nothing short of a miracle to escape a humiliation.
In the second innings, Gujarat openers Samit Gohel (70 not out) and Priyank Panchal (37) added 72 for the first wicket as their lead swelled beyond 500. Gohel and Bhargav Merai (49 not out) kept attacking the Goa bowlers and at stumps, the hosts were comfortably placed at 158/1, a staggering overall lead of 587 runs.
Bengal take 1st inn lead
Tangi: Bengal rode on a disciplined pace attack to secure a first innings lead against Odisha.
The pace troika of Ishan Porel (3/72), Nilkantha Das (3/43) and Mukesh Kumar (3/51) shared nine wickets among them to bundle out Odisha for 250 to secure an 82-run first innings lead and put one foot in the semifinals.
At close on day three, Bengal were 79 for two, extending their overall lead to 161 with Abhishek Raman (4) and in-form senior batsman Manoj Tiwary (3) at crease.
In another game at Ongole, Saurashtra took control against Andhra by dismissing the hosts for 136 for a massive 283-run first- innings lead.
By stumps on the third day, the visiting team extended the advantage by reaching 93 for 2 in their second innings.
J&K poised for lead
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir were in a good a position to take the crucial first-innings lead after bowling out Karnataka for 206 on day three.
Resuming the day on 14 for two, Karnataka somehow managed to get past the 200-run mark with K Siddharth scoring 76 off 189 balls.
It was a disciplined bowling performance from the home team with Nabi and his new ball partner Mujtaba Yousuf taking three wickets each.
J&K skipper and off-spinner Parvez Rasool ran though the tail, ending with three wickets including of Siddharth.
In response, J&K were 88 for two at stumps, needing another 119 runs to take the first-innings lead. With two days left in the game, the lead could prove decisive in JK’s bid to make their first-ever semifinals.