In the latest Ranji match against Assam, Cheteshwar Pujara scored a valiant 99, which narrowly missed out on his 67th First-Class century in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match between Saurashtra and Assam, held at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
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On Day 2 of the match, which began on Friday (Jan 30, 2025, Pujara was dismissed for 99 runs off 167 balls, falling just one run short of a century. His innings included 10 fours and was a crucial contribution to Saurashtra’s first innings total, which resumed at 361 for 3.
Pujara was unbeaten on 95* at stumps on Day 1 and could add only 4 runs to his overnight score before being dismissed. Despite the heartbreak of missing the milestone, Pujara’s knock bolstered Saurashtra’s position in a match critical for their Ranji Trophy qualification hopes.
Pujara’s innings was built on a strong foundation laid by openers Harvik Desai (130) and Chirag Jani (80), who provided a quick start with a 146-run opening partnership. Pujara then formed a 94-run stand with Desai and a 93-run partnership with Sheldon Jackson, showcasing his characteristic precision and patience. However, he was dismissed by Mukhtar Hussain on the morning of Day 2, ending his quest for a century.
Saurashtra's first innings score in this match was 474 runs before getting bowled out. They batted for 117 overs in this innings, providing a solid platform for their innings and setting a challenging first innings total in front of Assam.
In terms of their current standing in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 points table, Saurashtra is positioned at the third place of Elite Group D. With 2 wins, 2 defeats, and 2 draws, they have accumulated 18 points, which places them behind Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh in their group. Saurashtra's performance in this match against Assam could potentially elevate their standing, depending on other results in the group.
