Ranji Trophy 2022: Bengal break 129-year-old record as nine batters score 50-plus runs in an innings

Bengaluru, June 9: The Bengal cricket team on Thursday (June 8) broke a 129-year-old global first-class record when all nine batters, who took guard, scored 50-plus runs in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy 2022 quarter-final clash against Jharkhand.

Bengal surpassed a record that stood since 1893 when the England touring Australian team had eight of their batters scoring fifty or more in a first-class game against combined universities (Oxford and Cambridge).

As for the record-setters, skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (65) got the Bengal team rolling along with fellow opener Abhishek Raman (61).

The opening partnership was followed by impressive knocks from Sudip Gharami (186) and senior-most batter Anushtup Majumdar (117). The pair added 243 runs for the second wicket.

Bengal's junior sports minister Manoj Tiwary (73) also added his name to the list along with Abhishek Porel (68), who has not let Bengal miss Wriddhiman Saha for once.

Royal Challengers Bangalore all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed (78) and Sayan Sekhar Mondal (53) also made half-centuries to complete an Indian cricket record.

But RCB pacer Akash Deep smashed 8 sixes in an 18-ball-53 to complete the global first-class record that was broken after 129 years. Meanwhile, tailenders Ishan Porel and Mukesh Kumar did not bat.

Bengal also went on to score a mammoth first innings score of 773 for eight against a hapless Jharkhand on the third day of the quarter-final in Bengaluru.

At stumps on day 3, the demoralized Jharkhand were 139 for 5 in their first innings and it is virtually impossible to stop Bengal from entering the semi-final as the opposition now trail by 634 runs.

Here is the record-breaking Bengal scorecard: