Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande became the first batters since 1948 to score centuries from the number 10 and 11 positions as they went on to secure their spot in the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy.
Both went on to register their maiden first-class centuries as the pair went on to stitch a stand of 232 runs, just one run short of the highest tenth wicket partnership which is still held by Ajay Sharma and Maninder Singh which came in the Delhi vs Mumbai fixture back in 1992.
Kotian, primarily an off-spinner, brought up his century in 115 deliveries. Deshpande also followed suit bringing up his century in 112 balls as well.
The partnership also becomes the sixth-highest stand for the tenth wicket in first-class history. It goes past the previous best held by the pair of RW Nicholls and W Roche in the English County Championship fixture between Middlesex and Kent back in 1899.
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The record holder for the highest partnership for the final wicket belongs to Allan Kippax and Hal Hooker where the pair put up a mammoth 307-run stand in the Sheffield Shield fixture for the New South Wales against Victoria back in 1928.
Representing the touring Indians against Surrey at The Oval 78 years ago, the duo of CT Sarwate (124*) and SN Banerjee (121) first achieved the incredible feat while putting on 249 runs for the 10th wicket as Nos 10 and 11 batters.
The target of 606 runs was possible due to contributions from Hardik Tomore (114), Prithvi Shaw (87) and Shams Mulani (54) as well. Tomore, wicket-keeper batter, had come out to open the innings and went on to score 114 of 233 deliveries after which was dismissed by Mahesh Pithiya. Shaw had come out to bat at number five where he scored 87 off 93 balls to set the tone along with a fifty from Mulani.
Ninad Rathva managed to break the partnership as Baroda had the impossible task of chasing down 606 runs with less than a day remaining.
In the quarter-final fixture taking place at the MCA Cricket Ground, the hosts assured of their spot in the semis having taken the first-innings lead and the final day still going on.
U19 World Cup star, Musheer Khan was adjudged the player of the match for scoring a fantastic double-hundred in the first innings of the mixture.
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Following their win, they will face Tamil Nadu in the semi-finals. TN had already dominantly beaten the defending champions Saurashtra by an innings and 33 runs.
(with PTI Inputs)
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