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This is an archive article published on December 30, 1998

Kotak puts Saurashtra on top

AHMEDABAD, DEC 29: Just two days to go and it will be 1999, but if it was in Saurashtra skipper Sitanshu Kotak's hands he would never all...

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AHMEDABAD, DEC 29: Just two days to go and it will be 1999, but if it was in Saurashtra skipper Sitanshu Kotak8217;s hands he would never allow the hands off time to move. Even his most optimistic of year planner8217;s would not have shown such a prolific scoring streak. A fine 93 took his season8217;s tally to 807 and put Saurashtra in command against Gujarat in the West Zone Ranji Trophy match at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera on Tuesday.

After Gujarat tailenders Rakesh Patel 55 and Vijay Patel 43 gave their reputed predecessors a batting lesson stretching the total to 310, Saurashtra finished the day at 181/2 at stumps on the second day.

After bearing the overstay of Gujarat tailenders, Saurashtra suffered more agony as opener Altaf Merchant made a flying visit. Bhavik Patel struck in his third over, inducing a Merchant snick which was held smartly by Kirat Damani in the second slip.

Bimal Jadeja, who opened the innings in the absence of indisposed injured Sudhir Tanna, was joined by Sitanshu Kotak. Thebonding they have soon this season will very soon inspire an adhesive company to endorse them. After their double hundred partnership against Maharashtra, the two left handers put Gujarat on a sticky wicket.

SCOREBOARD

GUJARAT 1ST INNINGS: Amrish Kotecha c Merchant b Rana 22; Nilesh Modi c amp; b Parsana 17; Mihir Sheth c Parmar b Parsana 48; Mukund Parmar run out 7; Kirat Damani c Bhambhania b Dhamecha 85; Keyur Padia lbw Bhambhania 0; Pathik Patel lbw Bhambhania 10; Vijay Patel not out 45; Bhavin Mehta c Bhatt b Parsana 10; Rakesh Patel C amp; b Prasana 55.

Extras: 13 4b, 1lb, 7nb, 1w

Total: 310 all out in 117 overs.

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-58, 3-69, 4-187, 5-187, 6-193, 7-208, 8-223, 9-302.Bowling: Garsondia 13-3-25-0, Rana 26-5-84-2 6nb, 1w, Parsana 37-10-89-5, Bhambhania 20-2-32-1, Dhamecha 7-0-23-1, Kotak 14-2-52-0.

SAURASHTRA 1ST INNINGS: Altaf Merchant c Damani b Bhavik 11; Bimal Jadeja batting 65; Sitanshu Kotak c amp; b Kotecha 93; Rajesh Garsondia batting 0Extras: 12 1b, 3w,8nb

Total: 181/2 in 61 overs.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-178.

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Bowling: Bhavik 8-0-27-1 2nb; Rakesh 8-0-45-0 6nb; 8-1-25-0 2w; Mehta 18-3-45-0; Parmar 11-2-21-0; Kotecha 5-1-13-1; Damani 3-0-4-0 1w.

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

 

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