RANJI TROPHY | Panchal leads Gujurat’s riposte in opposition to Kerala with a chic century

Gujarat’s Priyank Panchal in motion on the third day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal in opposition to Kerala in Ahmedabad on February 19, 2025.
| Photograph Credit score: R.V. MOORTHY

A chic unbeaten century from opener Priyank Panchal helped Gujarat battle again and stay on monitor to beat Kerala’s formidable first-innings whole throughout their Ranji Trophy semifinal right here on Wednesday.

Panchal remained unbeaten on 117 off 200 balls on the finish of the third day, taking his facet to 222 for one in 71 overs, 235 runs wanting the customer’s rating of 457.

The 34-year-old solid a 131-run opening partnership with Aarya Desai to present his crew the proper begin after Kerala’s bowlers discovered no assist from the freshly rolled pitch.

Gujarat’s sport plan was in stark distinction to the customer’s, aiming to attain as many as doable when the pitch was benign. Aarya and Panchal didn’t shrink back from driving, accumulating fairly just a few runs by means of the vacant third-man area.

Gujarat’s Aarya Desai performs a shot on the third day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal in opposition to Kerala in Ahmedabad on February 19, 2025.
| Photograph Credit score:
R.V. MOORTHY

Basil N.P. supplied Kerala with the breakthrough when he compelled Aarya to inside-edge a large ball onto his stump, when on 73. Panchal then took over the run-scoring accountability, citing his twenty ninth First Class hundred, with a six off Aditya Sarwate.

The skilled opener and Manan Hingrajia every survived edges that fell brief, navigated the final part of play and ensured the crew had 9 wickets in hand heading into day 4.

Gujarat’s Priyank Panchal performs a shot on the third day of the Ranji Trophy semifinal in opposition to Kerala in Ahmedabad on February 19, 2025.
| Photograph Credit score:
R.V. MOORTHY

Earlier, Kerala’s intention to delay the innings suffered a blow 4 overs into the day when Sarwate’s off-stump was knocked again by Chintan Gaja, handing the Gujarat captain his two hundredth First Class wicket.

Watch: https://www.bcci.television/bccilink/movies/8GwraBDg

With simply the 2 tempo bowlers left for firm, Mohammed Azharuddeen wrested the majority of the strike, broadening his strokes, making an attempt to build up as many runs as doable. However he was left stranded on an unbeaten 177 when Gaja eliminated the final wicket at 457.

With Gujarat reducing down the lead by a hefty margin, Kerala’s bowlers will look to curb the boundaries and hope for extra 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 Child 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; Whole (in 187 overs): 457.

Watch: https://www.bcci.television/bccilink/movies/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; Whole (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.