Ranji Trophy: Gugale, Bawne break records in marathon stand

Skipper Swapnil Gagale and Ankit Bawne of Maharashtra after their record partnership 594 runs against Delhi at the Ranji Trophy match. (Photo: PTI)

Swapnil Gugale (351 not out) and Ankit Bawne (258 not out) smashed records in their marathon undefeated partnership of 594 runs for the third wicket at Wankhede Stadium here on Friday. Maharashtra who sent a depleted Delhi attack on a leather hunt for almost two days, finally declared at 635/2.

The Maharashtra duo broke a 70-year-old partnership record for all wickets in the Ranji Trophy in a Group B match against Delhi. The previous record was 577, set by Vijay Hazare and Gul Mohammed for Baroda v Holkar in the 1946-47 season. It is also the highest third wicket partnership in Indian first class cricket eclipsing the 539 between Ravindra Jadeja and Sagar Jogyani for Saurashtra versus Gujarat in 2012.

The 25-year-old opening batsman from Pune, Gugale, who got three lives during his innings, remained unbeaten on a career-best 351 that contained five sixes and 37 fours off 521 balls. The 23-year-old no. 4 batsman Bawne from Aurangabad remained unconquered on a career-best 258 laced with two sixes and 18 fours. Both batsmen joined hands on Thursday after Navdeep Saini (2/44) struck twice in the first hour of first day and took Maharashtra to 290/2 with Gugale on 152 not out and Bawne on 120 at stumps on Thursday. Both made the bowlers toil on Friday also and remained unscathed till the end of their innings.

Delhi replied with 21 without loss in five overs before stumps with openers Unmukt Chand (4) and Mohit Sharma (14) at the crease.

“It was a beautiful wicket to bat on and we applied ourselves well. We were not aware of the records barring the highest third wicket partnership which was of 530 odd. Bawne was continuously chatting with me about not to throw our wickets as we could be writing history here,” Gugale who was also captaining his state for the first time, said.

“It was a surprise to me when I was chosen as skipper because I am just two-three seasons old. But I am happy I was chosen for the job and I made it memorable,” Gugale added.

“We could have batted for another two days on this wicket. You can’t get best batting wicket than this and Delhi also were a bowler short today. We had a plan to score 620 odd runs and declare. We have been at the receiving end once when Abhinav Mukund and Murali Vijay scored triple and double tons (462 opening partnership in Nasik during 2008-09 season), so we know what happens in the field so hopefully it affects them during batting,” Bawne said.

Delhi used nine bowlers as Saini got left the field in the morning due to injury.