Odisha reduced Gujarat to 71 for six before the lower-order staged a fightback, helping them to 197 on the first day of their quarterfinal match in the Ranji Trophy here on Friday.
With the likes of Priyank Panchal, who has been in red-hot form this season, and skipper Parthiv Patel failing to get going, Gujarat were rescued by Chirag Gandhi and Rush Kalaria’s seventh-wicket unbroken stand of 126.
At stumps, Gandhi and Kalaria were batting on 62 and 59 respectively. Medium pacer Deepak Behera was the most successful bowler for Odisha, playing in their first quarterfinal since 2001, returning figures of 3/36 in 13 overs, while his partner Basant Mohanty picked up two wickets.
Opting to field, Odisha had Gujarat on the mat at 71 for six in 31 overs.
Earlier, lunch was taken 47 minutes early at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, with Gujarat 39 for 2, due to concerns over the pitch that reportedly arose when Parthiv was struck on the arm by a rising ball.
Play resumed after ground-staff re-rolled the pitch, and Gujarat slumped further against the medium-pace of Behera, Mohanty and Biplab Samantray, before Kalaria joined Gandhi at the end of the 31st over of their innings.