Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021: Priyank Panchal’s century helps Gujarat reach Andhra Pradesh semi-finals

Skipper Priyank Panchal’s stroke-filled 134 and an equally impressive performance by the bowlers led to Gujarat’s huge 117-run victory over Andhra Pradesh in the quarter-finals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Monday. Gujarat posted a competitive 299 for 7 on 134 of Panchal and then defeated the opposition team for 182 to advance to the semi-finals. India’s Test star and Andhra captain Hanuma Vihari was dismissed for a five-ball duck. Barring an option to bat at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Gujarat lost Dhruv Rawal (18) early when he was dismissed by medium pacer KV Sasikanth (2/55).

However, Captain Panchal attacked Andhra and found a capable partner in the form of one batsman Rahul Shah (36 off 59 balls; 3×4) and both stopped Gujarat’s innings with their 80-run second wicket.

But when it seemed that the pair would take the game away, Andhra left-arm spinner A Lalit Mohan (2/55) broke the partnership by slipping it into Shah’s leg. Het Patel (28) was unable to convert his debut as Gujarat slipped to 166/3.

Despite losing the partner at the other end, Panchal continued to play his shots. He hit 10 fours and two maximum sixes in his 131-ball innings, even playing second fifty by Ripple Patel (35) and Chirag Gandhi (15), but failed to convert his start.

Andhra retained the medium-pacer M Harishankar Reddy (3/60) as the bowlers’ choice at regular intervals. This was largely due to Panchal’s hitting, as Gujarat crossed the 280-run mark.

Chasing 300, Andhra struggled at 21/3 as Gujarat left-arm pacer Arjan Nagwaswala (4/28) wreaked havoc, CR Ganeswar (6), Ashwin Hebbar (10) and rival captain Removed Vihari cheaply. Left-arm spinner Hardik Patel (1/27) removed Nitish Kumar Reddy (5) and then Karan Shinde (9) was also dismissed early as Andhra lost half their side at 58.

Ricky Bhui (67 off 76 balls; 3×4; 4×6) and Naren Reddy (28) added 61 runs for the sixth wicket to try to bring Andhra back into the game, but Nagwaswala sent his fourth and the Reds back because Andhra piled on 119 runs. / ६. Bhui’s knock only delayed the inevitable and Andhra were eventually dismissed at 182.

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Veteran campaigner Piyush Chawla (3/33) played a key role in the victory.

Brief Score: Gujarat 299/7 (Priyank Panchal 134; Rahul Shah 36; M Harishankar Reddy 3/60, A Lalit Mohan 2/55) bowled Andhra 182 (Ricky Bhui 67, Arjan Nagwaswala 4/28; Piyush Chawla 3/33) by 117 runs. Beat with. .