Irani Trophy 2022, Day 2 Review: Rest of India closes in on memorable victory against Saurashtra

The second day of the 2022 Irani Cup fared similarly to the opening one as the Rest of India tightened their grip on the match with another dominating outing on the pitch. Saurashtra are two wickets down in reply to their opponent's commanding score of 374 runs, with a result imminent in favor of the ROI on the third day at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.

The rest of India started the morning the same way they finished yesterday, with the centurion Sarfaraz Khan and skipper Hanuma Vihari blunting the Saurashtra bowlers in the first hour. But the set batters were dismissed in quick succession after a massive 210 run stand for the fourth wicket. 

Saurashtra threatened to make an unlikely comeback into the game with three quick wickets, but their hopes were short-lived as Jayant Yadav and Saurabh Kumar stitched a valuable 71-run stand, with the latter registering a brisk half-century. ROI finished their innings on a challenging score of 374 runs with a daunting lead of 276 runs.

Late strikes dents Saurashtra's hopes of an unlikely comeback

The Saurashtra bowlers had to toil hard for wickets, but Chetan Sakariya provided them with a few bright moments as the young talented pacer grabbed a five wicket-haul in the innings. Chirag Jani and skipper Jaydev Unadkat also contributed with two wickets each to support the impressive Sakariya.

In reply to the massive lead, the Saurashtra batters negated the new ball diligently, unlike in the first innings. They were just an hour away from ending the day on a positive note, before openers Harvik Desai and Snell Patel were dismissed in the space of two overs by the ever impressive Saurabh Kumar.

Hanuma Vihari's Rest of India are in full control of the match and barring a miraculous comeback, his side will likely get over the line with time not being a factor as there are still three days left in the contest.