2017-18 Ranji Trophy round-up, Round 5, Day 3: Gambhir, Panchal slam centuries
Gambhir scores unbeaten century
In response to Karnataka's massive 649, Delhi ended the day on 277/4 courtesy of Gautam Gambhir's unbeaten century. Although Delhi are still over 350 runs behind Karnataka's first innings tally, the Indian opener's knock ensured that they took the game into the final day with a hope of still claiming a first innings lead.
Dhruv Shorey scored a fifty, while Rishabh Pant was dismissed 9 short of a half-century but Gambhir stood firm at the other end as he remained unbeaten on 135. Stuart Binny continued his impressive game as he added a couple of wickets to the century he scored with the bat.
Delhi 277/4 (Gambhir 135*, Binny 2/39) trail Karnataka 649 by 372 runs
Panchal continues fine form; Gujarat still in the hunt
Priyank Panchal continued his stunning form as his century helped Gujarat end the day 266 runs behind Saurashtra's first innings score at the end of day three. The opener was dismissed on 145 by Jaydev Unadkat after he rescued Gujarat from a precarious 109/3.
Although they are still over 250 runs behind Saurashtra's tally, they are still in with a chance of claiming the first innings lead as they finished day three on 304/4.
Brief Score: Saurashtra (Pujara 183) 570 lead Gujarat 304/4 (Panchal 145) by 266 runs.
Mumbai on the brink as Baroda post massive total
It hasn't gone according plan for Mumbai so far in their 500th Ranji encounter. After being bowled out for 171 on day one, Baroda then proceeded to take a 404-run lead on day three before they declared. To make matters worse, Mumbai lost in-from Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas in their second innings and still trail by 302 runs going into the final day with just six wickets in hand.
On the back of centuries from Swapnil Singh and Aditya Waghmode, Baroda amassed a massive 575/9 before they declared on day three. Trailing by 404 runs going into their second innings, Mumbai lost captain Aditya Tare early. While Prithvi Shaw scored a fifty, a collapse late in the day saw Shaw, Iyer and Gohil be dismissed in the space of 15 runs as they ended the day on 100/4 with Ajinkya Rahane still unbeaten on 28 along with Suryakumar Yadav.
Brief Score: Mumbai 171 and 102/4 (Shaw 56) trail Baroda 575/9 decl (Swapnil Singh 164, Waghmode 138) by 302 runs.
Uttar Pradesh reclaim advantage on day three
Saurabh Kumar's five-wicket haul helped Uttar Pradesh take a crucial first innings lead before a century from Umang Sharma ensured that they finished the day in firm control of the match. Captain Suresh Raina broke the seventh wicket partnership and Assam lost their last four wickets for just 20 runs as UP took a 31-run lead.
In reply, UP lost Abhishek Goswami early but an unbeaten century by Umang Sharma helped them finish the day on 229/2 with lead of 260 runs.
Brief Score: Uttar Pradesh 349 and 229/2 (Sharma 131*) lead Assam 318 (Roy 72, Kumar 5/54) by 260 runs
Other Scores:
Odisha 286/4 trail Tamil Nadu 530/8 by 244 runs
Andhra 402 and 51/1 lead Tripura 315 by 138 runs
Bengal 207 and 86/3 trail Vidarbha 499 by 206 runs
J&K 376 and 246/7 lead Jharkhand 292/9 by 330 runs
Chhattisgarh 389/6 lead Himachal 175 by 214 runs
Services 263 and 108/3 lead Goa 270 by 101 runs
Haryana 223 and 179/5 lead Rajasthan 150 by 252 runs
Railways 330/5 trail Maharashtra 481 by 151 runs