VADODARA, Feb 14: Cheteshwar Pujara remained unbeaten on 116 to hand Saurashtra the all-important first innings lead in the semifinal of the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament against Assam, here today.
At stumps on the second day, Saurashtra made 254 for five in 82 overs in reply to Assam�s 234.
Pujara was the star of Saurashtra�s innings as he scored his runs off 212 deliveries with the help of 15 boundaries and one six.
Chirag Jani (29 n.o) was giving Pujara company at the crease at the end of day�s play.
Besides Pujara, Sheldon Jackson (47) and Avi Barot (35) were the other notable contributors for Saurashtra.
For Assam, Arup Das picked up three wickets giving away 68 runs.
Resuming at an overnight score of 193 for seven, Assam managed to add just 41 runs before being all out.
Overnight half centurion Amit Verma (98) added 24 runs to his last night�s tally before being bowled out just two runs short of his century.
With Verma�s dismissal Assam fight came to a halt as they were dismissed in 87 overs.
Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat returned with figures of six for 77 while Hardik Rathod scalped three wickets.
Brief scores: Assam: 234 all out in 87 overs (Amit Verma 98, KB Arun Karthik 59; Jaydev Unadkat 6/77).
Saurashtra: 254 for five in 82 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 116 not out, Arup Das 3/68). � PTI