(UTV | INDIA) – It’s been a run-fest in Kolkata since the start of the Ranji Trophy pre-quarterfinal game between Jharkhand and Nagaland.
Kumar Kushagra’s double century and Virat Singh’s 107 steered Jharkhand to an imposing 402 for five on Day 1 after Nagaland skipper Rongsen Jonathan won the toss and asked the opposition to bat at the iconic Eden Gardens. But Jharkhand’s run-scoring spree didn’t end there.
Singh and Kushagra toyed with the Nagaland attack, which was followed by Shahbaz Nadeem’s ton to further pulverize the opposition. Jharkhand began the second day on 402 for five and stretched the total to 769 for nine, courtesy of Kushagra’s double century, Anukul Roy’s brisk fifty and Nadeem’s best figures in first-class cricket.
Kushagra, who was a part of the India U-19 team for the 2020 South Africa tour, got to the double hundred with a boundary off Imliwati Lemtur to complete the milestone in 213 deliveries. It was also his maiden 200 score. He put up 166 runs for the seventh wicket with Nadeem after Roy’s exit on 59.
Kushagra was in sublime touch, notching up his next fifty in just 39 deliveries before giving away his wicket to Khrievitso Kense. Kushagra also became the youngest to score a 250-plus score in Ranji Trophy and first-class cricket as well. He is now the youngest player to score 250 in first-class cricket, breaking the record of Pakistan’s Javed Miandad.
Jharkhand also broke Mumbai’s record to record the fourth-highest Ranji Trophy innings total. Mumbai had notched up 855/6 against Hyderabad back in 1990-91.
Highest innings totals in Ranji Trophy:
944/6 – Hyderabad vs Andhra, 1993-94
912/6 – Tamil Nadu vs Goa, 1988-89
912/8 – Madhya Pradesh vs Karnataka, 1945-46
880/10 – Jharkhand vs Nagaland, 2021-22*
The run-piling process continued on the third day with Nadeem going past the 175 mark and Rahul Shukla scoring a half-century to help Jharkhand post a colossal 880 with Rahul unbeaten on 85. Nadeem was the last wicket to fall as he was trapped for 177 by Lemtur.
Nagaland looked listless against Jharkhand’s batting onslaught. They employed seven bowlers with the spin duo of Imliwati Lemtur and Khrievitso Kense returning with four and three wickets respectively, while Shrikant Mundhe, Chopise Hopongkyu and Rongsen Jonathan claimed one each.