It is not often that a batsman gets to his century as well as his double century when he has only the last man as his partner
Baba Indrajith
It is not often that a batsman gets to his century and as well as double century when he has only the last man as his partner. Baba Indrajith achieved that feat, with leftarm spinner Vijay Gohil giving him solid support at the other end. Indrajith was on 59 when Gohil walked in with India Red struggling on 205 for nine. One thought that in a matter of minutes Suresh Raina-led India Blue would wrap up the innings. But it was not to be as the stubborn resistance went on and on. The two put on a Duleep Trophy record last wicket partnership of 178, with Indrajith scoring a career-best 200 and Gohil remaining unbeaten on 34.
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The duo in the process surpassed the earlier Duleep best of 164 (139 net as the stand included 25 as penalty runs for slow overs rate) between Vijay Yadav and Maninder Singh for North Zone against South at Surat in 1992.
The 178-run partnership now is the second best for the 10th wicket in domestic cricket in India, after the monumental 233 between Ajay Sharma and Maninder Singh for Delhi against Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy match in 1991. However, the best for Indian cricket remains the famous last wicket stand of 249 between Chandu Sarwate and Shute Banerjee for the visiting Indians against Surrey at the Oval in 1946.
Blue skipper Raina tried all tricks and as many as seven bowlers, but just could not dislodge the two till just before the first interval on the second day of the day/night match at Green Park stadium. Nobody in the wildest dream would have imagined that Indrajith would reach the 200-run mark as he was batting on 120 at the close of the opening day. But Gohil gave ample support at the other end, using solid defence to give Indirajith the confidence to play his natural game.
Indrajith struck the sixth six of his innings off part-time spinner Manoj Tiwary to reach the double century in 278 balls and barely two delivers later again tried to clear the fence only to be caught on the extra-cover boundary. That brought to an end a most memorable partnership and an amazing innings.
Indrajith gave credit to the last three batsmen Siddharth Kaul, Basil Thampi and Gohil for giving him solid support that helped him put his team in a strong position notching up 383 in the first innings. "Without the support of Sid, Basil and Vijay, I would not have been able to achieve what I have achieved today. I was sitting on the benches in the last match at Lucknow and was hoping for an opportunity in Kanpur. But getting a double century on Duleep Trophy debut is like a dream. It is yet to sink in," the double centurion said.
Brief scores: India Red 382 (B Indrajith 200, V Gohil 34 not out, A Rajpoot 3-56, M Tiwary 2-30). India Blue 198/3 (S Raina 52, H Vihari 71 not out).
India's highest 10th wicket stands in first class cricket
249 Chandu Sarvate and Shute Banerjee India vs Surrey at the Oval 1946 -- Tour match
233 Ajay Sharma and Maninder Singh Delhi vs Mumbai at Mumbai 1991 -- Ranji Trophy
178 Baba Indrajith and Vijay Gohil India Red vs Green at Kanpur 2017 -- Duleep Trophy
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