Urvil Patel’s scintillating hundred spearheaded another day of dominance for Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Saurashtra at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Monday.
Urvil’s knock of 140, along with Jaymeet Patel’s 103, helped the visiting team amass 511 in response to Saurashra’s first-innings total of 216. Staring at a 295-run deficit when the second innings began, the host was 33 without loss at stumps on the third day.
This was Urvil’s maiden ton in nine Ranji appearances. The 26-year-old’s white-ball credentials had come to the fore earlier in the season when he plundered centuries off 28 and 36 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Jaymeet was the first to reach his ton. Unbeaten on 88 with Gujarat’s total reading 260 for four at the beginning of day three, the 22-year-old southpaw brought up the three-figure mark with a four through third man off Jaydev Unadkat. He celebrated the moment by raising his arms and kissing the turf, but the high was short-lived. Off the very next ball that he faced, he was cleaned up by medium-pacer Chirag Jani.
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Soon after, Urvil was given out leg-before off Unadkat. With the Decision Review System (DRS) in use, the wicketkeeper-batter went upstairs and was saved by Hawk-Eye’s projection that the ball would miss leg stump.
Other than that, he looked in no trouble during a 98-run stand with Chintan Gaja. Both showed precise execution with their drives, taking toll of the half-volleys that grew in frequency as the Saurashtra bowlers fatigued.
Having reached 78 off 139 balls when the players headed for lunch, Urvil pressed the accelerator on resumption. His next 25 runs took just 17 deliveries. The milestone arrived with an aerial flick towards midwicket against off-spinner Yuvrajsinh Dodiya for a boundary.
Saurashtra’s sloppiness in the latter half of the day was summed up by Ravi Bishnoi and Priyajitsinh Jadeja adding 45 runs for the last wicket.