Ahmedabad: The 22-year-old, Gujarat’s young batting sensation, Jaymeet Patel stood tall under immense pressure in his debut First-Class season and guided his team closer to Kerala’s first-innings total with a fighting knock on Day 4 in the Ranji Trophy semifinal at Narendra Modi Stadium.
With Gujarat still trailing by 28 runs and only three wickets in hand, the battle for supremacy remains finely poised heading into the final day.
Jaymeet, Gujarat’s leading run-scorer this season, walked in with the hosts reeling under a middle-order collapse orchestrated by Kerala’s veteran off-spinner Jalaj Saxena. But instead of succumbing to the pressure, he took the game deep, forging crucial partnerships with Vishal Jayswal and Siddharth Desai. His measured approach ensured Gujarat kept chipping away at the deficit, setting up a tense finale where every run would count.
Earlier in the day, Gujarat’s hopes of first innings lead were jolted when Manan Hingrajia fell to a contentious third-umpire decision just five overs into the morning session. Replays suggested the ball had struck his bat and pad almost simultaneously, but the review ruled in favour of Kerala, sending Hingrajia back for 33.
As the match heads into its decisive final day, Gujarat’s hopes rest on Jaymeet’s shoulders. A mere 28 runs stand between them and the all-important first-innings lead. Kerala, on the other hand, will need early wickets to wrest back control and deny Gujarat a spot in the Ranji Trophy final.
Brief scores: Kerala 457 all out lead Gujarat 429/7 in 154 overs (Priyank Panchal 117, Jaymeet Patel 74 not out) by 28 runs. IANS
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