Gujarat’s Priyank Panchal in action on the third day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Kerala in Ahmedabad on February 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY
A sublime unbeaten century from opener Priyank Panchal 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 131-run opening partnership with Aarya Desai to give his team the perfect start after Kerala’s bowlers found no help from the freshly rolled pitch.
Gujarat’s game plan was in stark contrast to the visitor’s, aiming to score as many as possible when the pitch was benign. Aarya and Panchal did not shy away from driving, accumulating quite a few runs through the vacant third-man region.
Gujarat’s Aarya Desai plays a shot on the third day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Kerala in Ahmedabad on February 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
R.V. MOORTHY
Basil N.P. provided Kerala with the breakthrough when he forced Aarya to inside-edge a wide ball onto his stump, when on 73. Panchal then took over the run-scoring responsibility, bringing up his 29th First Class hundred, with a six off Aditya Sarwate.
The experienced opener and Manan Hingrajia each survived edges that fell short, navigated the last phase of play and ensured the team had nine wickets in hand heading into day four.
Gujarat’s Priyank Panchal plays a shot on the third day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Kerala in Ahmedabad on February 19, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
R.V. MOORTHY
Earlier, Kerala’s aim to prolong the innings suffered a blow four overs into the day when Sarwate’s off-stump was knocked back by Chintan Gaja, handing the Gujarat captain his 200th First Class wicket.
Watch: https://www.bcci.tv/bccilink/videos/8GwraBDg
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. But he was left stranded on an unbeaten 177 when Gaja removed the last wicket at 457.
With Gujarat cutting down the lead by a hefty margin, Kerala’s bowlers will look to curb the boundaries and hope for more pitch deterioration when the fourth day commences.
The scores: Kerala – 1st innings: Akshay Chandran (run out) 30, Rohan Kunnummal lbw b Bishnoi 30, Varun Nayanar c Urvil b Priyajitsinh 10, Sachin Baby c Aarya b Nagwaswalla 69, Jalaj Saxena b Nagwaswalla 30, Mohammed Azharuddeen (not out) 177, Salman Nizar lbw b Jayswal 52, Ahammed Imran c Urvil b Nagwaswalla 24, Aditya Sarwate b Gaja 11, Nidheesh M.D. (run out) 5, Basil N.P. c Aarya b Gaja 1; Extras (lb-14, w-1, nb-3): 18; Total (in 187 overs): 457.
Watch: https://www.bcci.tv/bccilink/videos/G95Xx1tM
Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-63, 3-86, 4-157, 5-206, 6-355, 7-395, 8-428, 9-455.
Gujarat bowling: Gaja 33-9-75-2, Nagwaswalla 34-9-81-3, Priyajitsinh 21-2-58-1, Jaymeet 13-1-46-0, Bishnoi 30-7-74-1, Siddharth 33-13-49-0, Jayswal 22-5-57-1, Aarya 1-0-3-0.
Gujarat – 1st innings: Priyank Panchal (batting) 117, Aarya Desai b Basil 73, Manan Hingrajia (batting) 30; Extras (b-2): 2; Total (for one wkt. in 71 overs): 222.
Fall of wicket: 1-131
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 10-1-40-0, Saxena 25-5-71-0, Basil 15-1-40-1, Sarwate 17-2-55-0, Chandran 3-0-11-0, Imran 1-0-3-0.
Published – February 19, 2025 07:12 pm IST
