This Day That Year: Ajiyanka Rahane scored Test ton at Lords
The most reliable batsman in Indian Test cricket team, Ajiyanka
Rahane scored a brilliant century in his maiden Test at Lords on the first day
of the 2nd Test match against England on 17th July 2014.
England captain
Alistair Cook won the toss and decided to field first on a green top pitch
aiding the fast bowlers. Rahane came at the crease with the scoreboard reading
86 for 3 as Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan went cheaply. He
looked edgy at the start with tough questions asked by the England bowlers.
Rahane looked solid as ever as India lost wickets of Kohli,
Pujara, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja after the lunch break. India went into the
tea break in big trouble at 140 for 6. After the tea break, Rahane completed
his half-century off 101 balls. Stuart Binny also fell cheaply to leave India at
145 for 7. Rahane took the attack to England bowlers with positive stroke play.
He and Bhuvneshwar Kumar rescued India’s innings with a 90 runs stand for the 8th
wicket. Kumar contributed valuable 36 runs.
Rahane who played with positive intent and reached his 2nd
Test century off 151 balls. He was finally
brilliantly caught by James Anderson on his own bowling for 103 off 154 balls
with 15 fours and 1 six. His innings helped India post a competitive total of
295.
It was a superb knock by the young batsman who played with
solid defense and hit the bad balls away for boundaries. He became the fourth
Indian after Sourav Ganguly, Dilip Vengsarkar and Ajit Agarkar to hit a century
on his first Test appearance at Lords.
He made his Test debut for India on 22nd March
2013 against Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi. On 15th
February 2014, Rahane made his first Test century against New Zealand at Basin Reserve,
Wellington. At one stage, India was struggling at 156 for 5 and Rahane took
the attack to Kiwis bowlers by making 118 but could not win the match due to McCullum's
triple century.
Rahane has played a total of 65 Test matches (109 innings)
and scored 4203 runs with 11 centuries and 22 half-centuries. His career-best
score so far is 188.
After a slump in form, he scored his 11th Test
century against South Africa in the 3rd Test match played at Ranchi
from 19th October 2019. He hit 115 off 192 balls and put on 267 runs
for the 4th wicket with Rohit Sharma.
In the past few months, Rahane has been struggling for form.
During the 2020 Test series against New Zealand in New Zealand, he made 46 and
29 in the first Test at Wellington. In the 2nd Test at Christchurch
like other batsmen, Rahane was dismissed for 7 and 9, respectively.
He has made centuries in New Zealand, Australia, England, two
times each against West Indies and Sri Lanka. Also, he joined the list of players to
score two centuries in the same test match.
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| This Day That Year: Rahane scored a brilliant 103 on the 1st Day of 2nd Test at Lords. |
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