Mahipal Lomror's Stunning Century Revives Rajasthan's Hopes in Ranji Trophy Clash
In a thrilling turn of events at the Siechem Stadium in Puducherry on Saturday, Rajasthan captain Mahipal Lomror finally broke his streak of poor performances with a magnificent century. However, despite his heroic efforts, Puducherry stands on the brink of victory as the penultimate day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match concluded.
Lomror's Commanding Innings Leads Rajasthan's Fightback
Breaking free from a sequence of low scores, the southpaw Lomror blazed his way to 131 runs off just 154 deliveries. His innings was a masterclass in aggressive batting, featuring twenty boundaries and one six, showcasing his regained form and leadership on the field. This century not only bolstered Rajasthan's second innings but also injected much-needed momentum into their campaign.
Key Partnerships and Contributions from Rajasthan Batsmen
Lomror was well-supported by his teammates, particularly in a crucial 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Kunal Rathore, who contributed a brisk 44 runs from 60 balls, including six fours and a six. The opening pair of Ramnivas Golada (47) and Salman Khan (35) provided a solid foundation, though they fell short of converting their starts into substantial scores. Debutant Deepak Choudhary continued his impressive form, adding 30 runs in the second innings after his 64 in the first, with his knock including three sixes.
Puducherry's Bowling Attack and Chase Setup
On the bowling front, Puducherry's off-spinner Karan Kannan was the standout performer, claiming six wickets for 139 runs, while left-arm spinner Sagar Udeshi supported with four wickets for 88 runs. Their combined efforts restricted Rajasthan to 352 all out in the second innings, setting up a target of 172 runs for Puducherry to win.
Puducherry's Steady Pursuit of Victory
At stumps on the penultimate day, Puducherry had reached 51 for two in their second innings, needing another 121 runs to secure the win. With R Shreeram unbeaten on 29 and Puneet Datey on 13, the home team is in a strong position to chase down the target on the final day. Rajasthan's Mohit Changra managed to take two wickets, but Puducherry's batsmen have shown resilience so far.
Match Summary and Implications
Brief Scores: Rajasthan 168 & 352 in 94.3 overs (Mahipal Lomror 131, Ramnivas Golada 47, Salman Khan 35, Kunal Rathore 44, Deepak Choudhary 30, Deepak Hooda 25, Amol Chelani 25; Karan Kannan 6/139, Sagar Udeshi 4/88) vs Puducherry 349 & 51/2 in 15 overs (R Shreeram 29*, Puneet Datey 13*; Mohit Changra 2/15).
This match highlights the competitive spirit of the Ranji Trophy, with Lomror's century serving as a bright spot for Rajasthan amidst their challenging position. As the final day approaches, all eyes will be on Puducherry to see if they can capitalize on their advantage and clinch the win.
