Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Panchal century drives Gujarat’s strong reply to Kerala’s 457 on Day 3
A sublime unbeaten century from opener Priyank Panchal in his 100th First-Class (FC) game helped Gujarat fight back and remain on track to overcome Kerala’s formidable first-innings total during their Ranji Trophy semifinal here on Wednesday.
Panchal remained unbeaten on 117 off 200 balls at the end of the third day, taking his side to 222 for one in 71 overs, 235 runs short of the visitor’s score of 457.
The 34-year-old forged a solid 131-run opening partnership with Aarya Desai to give his team the perfect start. Kerala opened with off-spinner Jalaj Saxena from one end, employing a silly point and leg-slip, expecting the pitch to provide some turn. But, the impact of the rollers before the day’s play and then ahead of the Gujarat innings neutralized the pitch which had shown signs of turn late on day two.
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Gujarat’s game plan was in stark contrast to that of the visitor’s, aiming to score as many runs as possible when the pitch was benign.
Aarya and Panchal did not shy away from driving against the pacers, accumulating quite a few runs through the vacant third-man region.
The lanky Aarya drove with aplomb against the experienced spinners in the opposition camp, bringing up his fifty off 82 balls. Basil N.P. provided Kerala with the breakthrough when he forced the southpaw to inside-edge a wide ball onto his stumps.
Panchal then took over the run-scoring responsibility, cutting anything too wide of off-stump. He survived an outside edge that pierced the gap between the wicketkeeper and slip when on 78. The opener lofted Aditya Sarwate for six to bring up his 29th FC hundred, letting out a deafening roar and soaking in the applause from his dugout.
The experienced opener and Manan Hingrajia each survived edges that fell short of the wicketkeeper and first slip, respectively. They managed to navigate the last phase of play to ensure the team had nine wickets in hand heading into day four.
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Earlier, Kerala’s aim to prolong the innings suffered a blow four overs into the day when Sarwate played inside the line to a Chintan Gaja ball that moved away a touch off the pitch, knocking back his off-stump and handing the Gujarat captain his 200th FC wicket.
With just the two pace bowlers left for company, Mohammed Azharuddeen wrested the bulk of the strike, broadening his strokes, trying to accumulate as many runs as possible. Gujarat responded by pushing all fielders back to the fence for the first four balls of the over before protecting the single off the last two.
The move paid immediate dividends as MD Nidheesh was caught short of his crease when Azharuddeen pushed for a quick single off the last ball of the over to retain the strike. The centurion was left stranded on 177 not out, the highest score by a wicketkeeper in the tournament this season, when Gaja removed the last wicket.
With Gujarat cutting down the lead by a hefty margin, the Kerala bowling attack will look to curb the boundaries and hope for more pitch deterioration when the fourth day commences.
