Sports · Cricket · 1 hr ago
Rajat Paliwal scores 21st first-class century without seeing his score
Services captain Rajat Paliwal made an unbeaten 111 against Delhi in a Ranji Trophy match at Palam’s Airforce Complex Ground in New Delhi.
He came in with Services at 27 for three and helped the team reach 266 on the opening day.
It was his 21st first-class century, and his first in two years.
Since the COVID pandemic, Paliwal has asked scorers not to show his name or score on the board because it distracts him.
He realised he had reached 100 from Delhi’s fielders’ reaction, rather than from seeing his score.
The century came after a difficult previous season, when he made 264 runs, and followed two useful innings earlier this season.
His knock gave Services a strong total and a platform for the match’s next phase.
Services captain Rajat Paliwal scored an unbeaten 111 against Delhi, reaching his 21st first-class century.
He helped Services recover from 27 for three and post 266 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy match.
Paliwal’s score was not displayed on the scoreboard, a practice he adopted after the COVID pandemic to help him focus.
He realised he had reached 100 when Delhi’s fielders began closing in around him.
- Who
- Services captain Rajat Paliwal scored the century.
- What
- He made an unbeaten 111, his 21st first-class century, against Delhi.
- When
- Monday, the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match.
- Where
- Palam’s Air Force Complex Ground in New Delhi.
- Why
- Paliwal keeps his score off the scoreboard because he says it draws his attention and affects his focus.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Paliwal began asking for his name and score to be left off the scoreboard while he batted.
Paliwal made an unbeaten 111 against Delhi as Services recovered from 27 for three and reached 266.
- Innings
- 111 not out off 196 balls
- Career milestone
- 21st first-class century
- Services total
- 266 on the opening day
- Match
- Ranji Trophy Group C clash against Delhi
- Venue
- Palam’s Air Force Complex Ground, New Delhi
4 sources
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Rajat Paliwal banned the scoreboard, so Delhi told him he’d made a hundred
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What people are saying
I realised I had scored a hundred only through the reaction of the Delhi players.
The scoreboard draws attention, so I have taken it out of the picture entirely so that I concentrate only on the game.
This hundred is very special, especially because the team had lost four wickets for 44 runs and we needed this knock.