Ranji Trophy | Parthiv Patel smashes 143 to take Gujarat to maiden title
© FB- Indian cricket team
Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel smashed a brilliant 143 as Gujarat broke the record of highest fourth-innings chase in Ranji Trophy's history to win their maiden title against Mumbai. Manprit Juneja also scored a vital half-century helping Gujarat to a 5-wicket victory chasing 312 at Indore.
Brief
After starting their chase of 312 runs positively by ending day 4 at 47/0, Gujarat never looked to play defensive cricket on the final day even though it meant losing opener Priyank Panchal in the second over. Bhargav Merai also did not stay long as Balwinder Sandhu took his second scalp of the day by bowling him with the score reading 51/2.
Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel had no time to waste on the final day as he smashed the Mumbai bowlers for a flurry of boundaries. Parthiv and Samit Gohel added 38 runs for the third wicket before Gohel departed in Abhishek Nayar's bowling after edging a catch to the keeper.
There was no air of nervousness of chasing the highest target in Ranji Trophy history with new man Manprit Juneja and Parthiv kept dispatching the Mumbai bowlers with ease. Parthiv soon completed his second fifty of the match with a single off Shardul Thakur's bowling with Gujarat needing 171 more runs.
Juneja too completed his half-century soon and took Gujarat's score past the 200-run mark hitting Balwinder Sandhu for a four towards mid-wicket. However, Akhil Herwadkar brought an end to Juneja's innings with a teasing delivery outside the off-stum. The batsman tried for a sweep towards the leg-side, but only managed to give an easy catch to keeper Aditya Tare.
Celebrations over Juneja's wicket did not last long in the Mumbai camp as Parthiv smashed three boundaries in the very next over moving close to a century. He soon celebrated his century with a couple of runs in Herwadkar's bowling, with Mumbai being unable to put the breaks on Gujarat's momentum. The defending champions did their cause no
But Chirag Gandhi sealed off the match and title for Gujarat three overs later when he cut Thakur for a boundary over the point region sparking celebrations across the Gujarat camp. Parthiv Patel was awarded man of the match for his splendid knocks 90 and 143 to guide Gujarat to their first-ever Ranji Trophy title.
