Rajat Paliwal struck his eighth Ranji Trophycentury to enable Services score 254 in its first innings on the opening day of the Group C match against Saurashtra at the Palam ground here on Friday.
Saurashtra, 19 for no loss from 10 overs, was well served by seamers Jaydev Unadkat (six for 80) and Saurya Sanandiya (three for 62) after the visiting side opted to bowl.
Paliwal, 23, has been Services’ principal run-getter since his debut four years ago. He had warmed up this season with scores of 92 against Goa and 70 against Jammu & Kashmir.
“I had missed those hundreds and was keen not to mess it up today. I was fortunate to have the company of Yashpal (Singh) who guided me during a crucial phase,” said Paliwal.
Coming together at 59 for three, Paliwal and Yashpal (55 not out, 155b, 7x4) added 112 runs for the fourth wicket before the former was caught in the slips when attempting a cut.
His 121 was compiled off 142 balls with 19 fours and a six.
THE SCORES:
SERVICES — 1ST INNINGS: Anshul Gupta b Sanandiya 1, Soumik Chatterjee c Aarpit Vasavada b Sanandiya 16, Ravi Chauhan c Sagar Jogiyani b Unadkat 5, Rajat Paliwal c Vasavada b Unadkat 121, Yashpal Singh (not out) 55, Vikas Hathwala c Avi Barot b Unadkat 7, Shashank Sharma c Jogiyani b Unadkat 11, M. Khalid Ahmed c Mohsin Dodia b Unadkat 16, Shadab Nazar lbw b Unadkat 0, Raushan Raj lbw b Sanandiya 1, Diwesh Pathania c Punia b Makwana 4; Extras (b-1, lb-10, nb-4, w-2): 17; Total (in 69.1 overs): 254.
FALL-OF-WICKETS: 1-3, 2-8, 3-59, 4-171, 5-183, 6-199, 7-219, 8-219, 9-226.
SAURASHTRA BOWLING: Jaydev Unadkat 23-4-80-6, Saurya Sanandiya 17-0-62-3, D.S. Punia 7-1-30-0, Ravindra Jadeja 9-2-29-0, Kamlesh Makwana 3.1-0-14-1.
SAURASHTRA — 1ST INNINGS: Mohsin Dodia (batting) 5, Avi Barot (batting) 14; Total (for no loss in 10 overs): 19.
SERVICES BOWLING: Pathania 5-3-10-0, Nazar 4-2-5-0, Raj 1-0-4-0.