Ajinkya Rahane hits 40th first-class hundred, first for Leicestershire

MUMBAI: Former India and current Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane stroked his 40th First-Class century -- a superb 192-ball 102 -- to help Leicestershire battle hard to avoid defeat against Glamorgan in their County Championship Division Two match at the Sophia Gardens on Sunday.

The knock ended a nearly-two year wait for the senior India batsman for a First-Class hundred. Rahane's 39th hundred came in a Ranji Trophy match while captaining Mumbai against Assam in January 2023. He has not played for India since July 2023, and wasn't picked for the upcoming Duleep Trophy.


Rahane, a veteran of 85 Tests and 90 ODIs, struck 13 fours and a six while scoring his maiden century for Leicestershire. Showing that he still had the ability to score big when it mattered, the seasoned batsman reached his century with cut shots off back-to-back deliveries for four. The 36-year-old was involved in a vital stand of 183 for the fourth wicket with Australia’s Peter Handscomb, who was batting on 107 on the final day of the four-day game.

Coming in to bat when Leicestershire were 74 for three, Rahane combined with Handscomb to keep the team’s hopes of saving the game alive. Earlier, Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram slammed career-best, unbeaten 257 to enable his team to put up a mammoth total of 550 for nine declared and gain a 299-run first innings lead.

At stumps on the third evening, Rahane was 47 not out and Handscomb unbeaten on 33, as Leicestershire ended at 144 for 3, trailing by 155, when bad light stopped play with 21.2 overs remaining.


Both the Indian and Australian were dropped by Glamorgan leg-spinner Mason Crane. Rahane, who has scored 12 Test hundreds and three ODI tons, made 42 off 67 balls in the first innings.

Rahane was in fine form during the One-Day Cup for Leicestershire, scoring 378 runs, including four fifties, in 10 matches. The senior battler made his debut for Leicestershire earlier this season after having missed an opportunity to play for the club last year.

Rahane has amassed 13,387 runs in First-Class cricket in 190 matches. He has scored 5077 runs, including 12 hundreds, in 85 Tests.


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