Courtesy: BCCI
Priyank Panchal, one of the most well renowned batters in Indian domestic cricket currently, got to his 29th First-class hundred in the Ranji Trophy semi-final for Gujarat against Kerala at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The 34-year-old stayed unbeaten at the end of third day’s play on 117 runs in 200 balls in the high stakes match, to help Gujarat attain a fantastic start, reaching 222/1 in response to 457-run total from Kerala in the first innings.
Gujarat needed to bowl a whopping 187 overs to bowl out Kerala’s batting lineup at the start of day three in the five-day contest, and still, they weren’t able to get the better of Mohammed Azharuddeen, who scored 177 runs in 341 balls with 20 fours and one maximum. In pursuit of the big first innings score, Gujarat got the perfect start from their openers Priyank Panchal and Aarya Desai, sharing a 131-run stand for the first wicket.
During this vital opening stand, Panchal and Desai went past their respective fifties, with the latter scoring 73 runs in 118 balls with 11 fours and one maximum. Manan Hingrajia walked to the middle at the fall of the first wicket, and he kept the momentum of the Gujarat innings going alongside Priyank Panchal, and at stumps on day three, these two batters had shared an unbeaten stand of 91 runs, during which the veteran brought up yet another three-figure score in red-ball cricket.
Priyank Panchal's innings could decide the fate of Ranji Trophy semi-final
With the importance of overhauling the first innings score being very significant, especially since it could decide the finalist of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 in case of a stalemate, Gujarat are eyeing the 457-run total first and foremost. Therefore, Priyank Panchal will be looking to continue batting time in the semi-final clash, especially with the pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium expected to assist the bowlers a bit more in the last couple of days.
Moreover, in the other semi-final of the Ranji Trophy, Vidarbha found themselves in command against Mumbai after taking a 113-run lead in the first innings before scoring 147/4 in their second innings at stumps on day three.
