Irani Cup 2023 day 2 | Rest of India’s Kaverappa and spinners leave Saurashtra bruised

Rest of India bowlers Kaverappa, Saini, Saurabh, Mulani & Narang restrict Saurashtra to 212/9 in 80 overs. Vidwath Kaverappa's five-over spell leaves Saurashtra bruised, taking two wickets in his first two overs. Cheteshwar Pujara's battle with Kaverappa was exciting, but Pulkit Narang had Pujara caught at short-leg. Arpit Vasavada dug in with a half-century, but Saurabh Kumar took three wickets.

A five-over spell by Vidwath Kaverappa on Monday morning left Saurashtra a bit roughed up like a gust of wind would an umbrella, at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) stadium here.

Saurashtra was bruised as it lost its openers in his first two overs. The 24-year-old started his first over with a no-ball and ended with a wicket as Harvik Desai edged one, that straightened a bit, to second slip.

In his second over, he got Chirag Jani to nick an angled-in delivery to the ’keeper. In both the dismissals, the batters closed the face of the bat.

But, Saurashtra had a sound reason to remain assured as its all-weather man Cheteshwar Pujara walked in at No. 4.

That no-ball was just about the only mistake Kaverappa would make. He bowled all his deliveries on just about the same line around the off-stump and at the same length. His new-ball partner Navdeep Saini, however, wasn’t as disciplined in comparison.

So, Kaverappa versus Pujara was exciting. One trying to draw the other to make a mistake and the other trying to remain withdrawn.

As there had been unpredictable turn and bounce and the spinners had done well on day one, the Rest of India tweakers too were expected to be effective, and they were.