Bhatt slams a ton

RAJKOT, JAN 11: If the Rajkot Municipal Corporation ground here was to launch a media blitz to woo batsmen, the ideal slogan could be Come...

RAJKOT, JAN 11: If the Rajkot Municipal Corporation ground here was to launch a media blitz to woo batsmen, the ideal slogan could be Come, find your form. As an ideal case study, Prakash Bhatt8217;s 158 on the second day of the West Zone match could drive home the point.

A cautious and run-deficient Bhatt got admitted to the Reform Centre on Monday, and on Tuesday walked out with loads of confidence. This redemption meant Saurashtra finished their first innings at a robust 437. But Vadodara8217;s 59 for no loss at close must have shaken them a bit, as now making himself comfortable at the batting retreat was the in-form opener Connor Williams. More than those in flannels, it was the men in black that were responsible for the main action in the opening session.

Bhatt, on 88, dabbed a ball from R Swaroop to Ajit Bohite at forward short leg. The Vadodara team went up in unison claiming the catch. The two umpires after a brief discussion negated the appeal. The Vadodara team claimed the umpires said that theyfailed to see whether the catch was taken cleanly. From the look of things, it seems this small oversight by the umpires could have big impact on the match.

Scoreboard

Saurashtra 1st innings, overnight 245-3: Vasant Kumar lbw Swaroop 84 278m, 179b, 14215;4; Altaf Merchant lbw Zaheer 23 54m, 40b, 3215;4; Sitanshu Kotak c Bedade b Arothe 42 186m, 150b, 4215;4; Prakash Bhatt c Buch b Bohite 158 345m, 261b, 22215;4, 1215;6; Bimal Jadeja lbw Zaheer 22 101m, 91b, 2215;4; Firoz Bambhania c D Mulherkar substitute b Buch 8 27m, 17b, 2215;4; Manoj Parmar c Zaheer b Buch 19 57m, 17b, 3215;4; Dharmendra Chudasama c Buch b Swaroop 7 16m, 23b, 1215;4; Niraj Odedra lbw Bohite 24 102m, 95b, 3215;4; Rakesh Dhruv b Bohite 13 43m, 30b, 1215;4; Kamal Chavda not out 8 21m, 17b, 1215;4. Extras: 19 10nb, 2lb, 7b.
Total in 158.5 overs amp; 643 minutes 437
Fall of wickets: 1-35 12.2, Merchant; 2-149 57.5, Kotak; 3-177 67.2, Vasant; 4-251 93, Jadeja; 5-271 99, Bambhania; 6-316 114.4, Parmar; 7-329119.5, Chudasama; 8-399 147.3, Odedra; 9-408 151.5, Bhatt.
Bowling: Zaheer 29-8-78-2 4nb; Kadri 16-4-54-0 1nb; Buch 42-7-109-2; Bohite 27-3-79-3; Swaroop 37-12-86-2 4nb; Arothe 7-0-22-1 1nb.

Vadodara 1st innings: Connor Williams batting 29 93m, 73b, 5215;4; R Swaroop batting 27 93m, 73b, 3215;4. Extras: 3 1-lb, 2-nb.
Total: For no loss in 24 overs, 93 minutes 59.
Bowling: Chavda 3-0-17-0; Merchant 2-0-15-0 2nb; Dhruv 8-3-10-0; Odedra 9-5-13-0; Chudasama 2-1-3-0.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More