Ajinkya Rahane, the seasoned Indian batsman, continued his impressive form in the County Championship, scoring a crucial century to help Leicestershire fight for a draw against Glamorgan.
Rahane, who boasts a decorated career with 85 Test and 90 ODI appearances, achieved his 40th First-Class century, a milestone reached with a well-crafted 192-ball 102. His innings was marked by 13 fours and a six, showcasing his elegant strokeplay.
The veteran batsman forged a crucial 183-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Australian teammate Peter Handscomb, who was batting on 94 at lunch on the final day. This partnership proved vital for Leicestershire as they chased a draw against a strong Glamorgan side.
Earlier in the match, Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram had set the tone with a career-best, unbeaten 257, leading his team to a declaration on 550 for 9, a lead of 299 runs. Leicestershire found themselves in a precarious position at 74/3 when Rahane joined Handscomb at the crease.
The pair combined expertly, with Rahane employing his signature cut shot to great effect, ultimately reaching his century for Leicestershire. This was his second century of the match, having scored 42 in the first innings.
Despite Rahane’s heroic efforts, he eventually fell to Kiran Carlson, but his contribution helped Leicestershire reach 271 for four at lunch, leaving them just 28 runs short of forcing Glamorgan to bat again.
Interestingly, both Rahane and Handscomb were dropped by Glamorgan leg-spinner Mason Crane, two of his three missed catches coming off his own bowling. These crucial drops could significantly impact the outcome of the match as Glamorgan push for a victory.
The match went into the final day with Leicestershire still needing to bat valiantly to secure a draw. The final result remains to be seen, but Rahane’s century will undoubtedly be remembered as a key highlight of the contest.
