Day 3 is a moving phase in any four-day game and thus it was a crucial day for all participating teams in the Ranji Trophy. The headline-worthy clash of the ongoing second Round has been between state rivals Maharashtra and Mumbai, where the Ranji Trophy champions are in closing distance of a win. Apart from this, Tamil Nadu have been Delhi a shellacking in their own backyard. TN reduced Delhi to just 178/6 before Yash Dhull came up with a resounding century. Nevertheless, Tamil Nadu are way ahead in the game with a massive lead of 410. Washington Sundar, who has recently been added in the Indian squad, took two wickets. The highlight of the day was Ruturaj Gaikwad’s blistering hundred.
Ruturaj Gaikwad smashes quick century
A much-needed knock before the Australian tour, Ruturaj Gaikwad continued his dominant form in First-Class cricket, notching his seventh century on Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai. The Maharashtra skipper, coming to bat at number three, contributed as many as 145 runs to his side’s total of 388 after they lost an early wicket in the very first over.
Gaikwad was at his aggressive best and reached his century in just 86 balls. He shared a crucial partnership with Sachin Dhas, helping Maharashtra surpass the 200-run mark within two sessions. However, his innings was cut short by Shams Mulani, who dismissed him for 145. With this century, Gaikwad further solidified his position as the leading backup opener for India. With Rohit Sharma unavailable for a game in Australia, we might see Gaikwad sharing the opening stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Ranji Trophy Round 2 Day 3 Brief Scores:
Elite Group A
MatchTeamsScoreMeghalaya vs TripuraTripura377/8dMeghalaya222/10, 3/0*Baroda vs ServicesServices74/2, 3/0*Baroda447/6, 134/1dOdisha vs Jammu & KashmirOdisha272/10Jammu & Kashmir270, 195/4*Mumbai vs MaharashtraMumbai441, 13/0*Maharashtra126/10, 388/110
Elite Group B
MatchTeam 1ScoreUttarakhand vs HyderabadHyderabad292/10Uttarakhand325, 189/5*Himachal Pradesh vs RajasthanRajasthanWon by 8 wicketsPuducherry vs VidarbhaPuducherry209/10Vidarbha283/10, 25/3*Gujarat vs AndhraAndhra137/5, 203/4*Gujarat367
Elite Group C
MatchTeam 1ScoreMadhya Pradesh vs PunjabMadhya Pradesh207Punjab277, 265/3*Uttar Pradesh vs HaryanaHaryana453/19Uttar Pradesh267/6Bengal vs BiharDay 3 washed outKarnataka vs KeralaKerala161/3No play on day 3 due to wet outfield
Elite Group D
MatchTeam 1ScoreAssam vs ChandigarhChandigarh374/19Assam266, 144/7*Saurashtra vs ChhattisgarhChhattisgarh578/7dSaurashtra177/2Railways vs JharkhandJharkhand417Railways329/4Delhi vs Tamil NaduDelhi264/8Tamil Nadu674/6d
Plate
MatchTeam 1ScoreSikkim vs GoaGoaWon by an innings & 53 runsNagaland vs ManipurNagaland237, 306/5Manipur139, 96/2Arunachal Pradesh vs MizoramArunachal Pradesh252, 77/3Mizoram247, 404/2d
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