Left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh made history with a hat-trick on Day Two of Tamil Nadu’s Elite Group A Ranji Trophy clash against Nagaland at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Gurjapneet struck in the sixth over of Nagaland’s innings, dismissing Sedezhalie, Hem, and skipper R Jonathan in consecutive deliveries, leaving Nagaland reeling at 9 for 3. He later returned to bowl out Chetan Bist, further tightening Tamil Nadu’s control over the match.
With this performance, Gurjapneet became the seventh bowler from Tamil Nadu to take a hat-trick and the third in the current round of the Ranji Trophy, following Services players Arjun Sharma and Mohit Jangra, who achieved the feat against Assam at Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground on Saturday.
Despite the early collapse, Nagaland found some stability through a determined 119-run unbroken fifth-wicket partnership between D Nischal and Yugandhar Singh. They ended the day at 150 for 4, trailing Tamil Nadu by 362 runs.
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Earlier, Tamil Nadu declared their first innings at 512 for 3, powered by Pradosh Ranjan Paul’s unbeaten 201 and a 124-run third-wicket stand with Andre Siddharth, who scored 65. The duo added 71 runs in the morning session on Sunday before the declaration, ensuring a commanding position for Tamil Nadu.
The team is looking to bounce back after an innings defeat to Jharkhand, while Nagaland, promoted from the Plate Group this season, also endured a heavy innings and 179-run loss against Vidarbha in their opening match.
