On Wednesday (22nd May), Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane becomes the third Indian batsman to score a century in English County Cricket debut.
The 30-year-old Indian Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is currently playing for Hampshire County Cricket Club. On this Monday (20th May), Rahane made his English County Cricket debut in the ongoing County Championship (Division One) match against Nottinghamshire. On day three of this match, Rahane slammed a brilliant century for Hampshire.
Starting the day three from 0 runs, Rahane hit his 30th century in the first-class career. The right-handed batsman scored 119 runs off 197 balls with the help of 14 fours. He stayed at the crease for 260 minutes before the off-spinner Matthew Carter bowled him.
CENTURY: A phenomenal knock from @ajinkyarahane88! ??
What an effort it's been on debut, his century coming off 179 balls with 12 fours – 219-2 (290 ahead).
? iOS: https://t.co/3H80EnOA4p
? Android: https://t.co/gImTwZuJKX pic.twitter.com/EjJFzlY5w5
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) May 22, 2019
Starting the day on their second innings score 3/1, Hampshire quickly went down to 9/2. Then Rahane and the captain Sam Northeast put a solid 257 runs partnership for the third wicket. Like Rahane, Northeast also hit a century as he scored 133 runs off 186 balls (14 fours and only six).
Later, the wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Alsop also scored an unbeaten 51 runs (49 balls), and Ian Holland played a knock of unbeaten 39 runs off 32 balls. After managing the second innings total of 367/5, Hampshire declared that innings. Chasing down the 439 runs target, Nottinghamshire finished the day three on 42/2.
Earlier in this match, Hampshire scored 310 runs in the first innings of the game. Ajinkya Rahane scored only ten runs in that innings.
In reply, Nottinghamshire lost their all first innings wickets on 239 runs. Hampshire achieved a crucial 71-run lead at the end of the first innings clashes.
Piyush Chawla and Murali Vijay were the first two batsmen to score a hundred in English County Cricket debut
Before Ajinkya Rahane, Piyush Chawla and Murali Vijay hit a century in their English County Cricket debuts. In 2009, Chawla scored a century in his English County Cricket debut for Sussex. Coming to bat at the no.9 position during Sussex’s first innings against Worcestershire, the left-handed batsman scored 102* runs.
Meanwhile, the Essex opener Murali Vijay scored a century in his English County Cricket debut in last year (2018). In that match against Nottinghamshire, the right-handed batsman scored a match-winning 100-run in the fourth innings. Earlier, in that same match, the opening batsman Vijay scored 56 runs during Essex’s first innings.
