At 21, Hyderabad delivers lowest Ranji total

PTI

Jaipur, 01 November 2010: Deepak Chahar made a sensational first-class debut with an eight-wicket haul as Hyderabad slumped to the lowest total in the history of Ranji Trophy when it folded for just 21 runs against Rajasthan in a Plate division match on Monday. Chahar, an 18-year-old medium pacer, sizzled on the opening day of the 2010 season as he gave away just 10 runs in an amazing spell of 7.3 overs.

 

Rajasthan skipper Hrishikesh Kantikar opted to bowl and what unfolded was an unbelievable drama. Hyderabad wickets fell like a pack of cards and it lasted merely 78 minutes and 15.3 overs in the morning session at Sawai Man Singh Stadium. The previous lowest total was registered by Southern Punjab, who were all out of 22 in a chase of 114 against Northern India in Amritsar in 1934-35 in the first edition of the domestic cricket tournament.

 

Hyderabad also equalled the record for the lowest total in the first-class history of India. Way back in 1915-16, Mohammedans were also out for 21 against Bombay Quadrangular. At the stumps, the hosts had taken a solid 199 run lead with eight wickets in hand after finishing the day at 220 for for two. Rajasthan lost openers Aakash Chopra (65), who is their guest player for this season, and Vineet Saxena (9).

 

Skipper Kanitkar was unbeaten on 100 and giving him company was Robin Bisht (33). Earlier in the day, Chahar started the rot by having Akshat Reddy (6) caught behind. Reddy was the top scorer for Hyderabad as none of its batsmen could reach a double-digit score. From 7/1 it became 5/12 in a gap of 23 balls as Chahar and his senior new-ball partner Pankaj Singh wreaked havoc.

 

Three of Hyderabad batsmen recorded ducks and the longest stay was of skipper D Ravi Teja, who faced 22 balls for his one run. Chahar had a chance to get a hat-trick after dismissing MP Arjun and Alfred Absolem in the last ball of his seventh over and the first of his eighth but Pagadala Naidu denied him the milestone by managing to survive the hat-trick ball.

 

The young paceman’s performance though was not best ever on debut as Maharashtra’s Vasant Ranjane had taken nine wickets for 56 run against Saurashtra in 1956-57.