AHMEDABAD: Drona Desai did not know he was batting on 498 when he bought out in opposition to JL English College, Maninagar within the Diwan Ballubhai Cup (U-19) at Shivaay Cricketing Hub in Karai, Gandhinagar and later rued falling two wanting 500.
In scoring 498, the 18-year-old created historical past on Tuesday, turning into the best scorer in inter-school cricket in Gujarat and the joint third-highest in India with Armaan Jaffer, behind solely Pranav Dhanawade and Prithvi Shaw.
He spent 372 minutes within the center, hit 86 boundaries and 7 sixes off 320 balls earlier than being dismissed caught behind by Himanshu Tadvi off Karan Mejiyatr’s bowling.
With Het Desai’s 142 off 98 balls (10×4, 9×6) and captain Viraj Talati’s 104* off 93 balls (19×4, 1×6), the trio helped St Xavier’s Loyola Corridor amass 844/7 after skittling out JL for 40 within the first innings.
JL have been bowled out for 92 of their second innings and St Xavier’s cruised to an innings and 712-run win. Left-arm spinner Daishin Sharma’s match haul of 9/53 was additionally pivotal for St Xavier’s.
Talking to TOI, Drona stated, “I’m disillusioned that I missed 500 by two runs. General, I am very joyful. I dedicate this knock to Jay Prakash Patel Sir, underneath whom I have been coaching since I used to be seven.”
On his urge for food for an enormous rating, Drona stated, “After I went in, the group had misplaced two fast wickets. The goal was to spend time on the wicket because it wasn’t simple to bat on. As the sport progressed, I went with the movement.
He was all reward for Jay Prakash Patel, underneath whom former India cricketer Parthiv Patel and Gujarat Ranji participant Priyank Panchal made headway on the state and senior ranges.
“J P Sir taught me to place a value on my wicket. In my innings, I hit 86 fours and solely seven sixes. Many of the fours have been floor photographs. He instructed me to hit solely floor photographs until I used to be 14 years previous. I began practising aerial photographs solely after that. He used to all the time inform me to make the bowler work onerous, make him earn the wicket. That’s what helped me lots on this innings,” acknowledged Drona.
His coach at St. Xavier’s, Mitul Patel, praised his knock. “The very best factor about his batting is his maturity. He performs each ball on benefit. He has good method. He can play on the entrance or again foot with aplomb. He performs every ball as late as attainable. He can play cowl drives, pulls, step out to spinners, and on the similar time, play late cuts too.”
On his dialog with Het, who arrived on the crease with the rating at 92/3, Drona stated, “I instructed him they’ve two good bowlers. If we see off their bowling, we will rating runs simply. We are going to get unfastened balls and scoring gained’t be onerous.”
The duo added 350 runs for the fourth wicket to show the match right into a no-contest.
