Tushar Deshpande and Tanush Kotian set Second-highest 10th Wicket Partnership in Ranji Trophy History

Tushar Deshpande (R) and Tanush Kotian (L). (Image: IANS)

Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande pushed the side’s lead to 606 runs against Baroda in the quarter-finals, setting the second-highest partnership in Ranji Trophy history.

Kotian, primarily an off-spinner, brought up his century in 115 deliveries. Deshpande also followed suit bringing up his century in 112 balls as well.

The pair went on to stitch a stand of 232 runs, just one run short of the highest tenth wicket partnership which is still held by Ajay Sharma and Maninder Singh in the Delhi vs Mumbai fixture back in 1992.

The partnership also becomes the sixth-highest stand for the tenth wicket in first-class history. It goes past the previous best held by the pair of RW Nicholls and W Roche in the English County Championship fixture between Middlesex and Kent back in 1899.

The record holder for the highest partnership for the final wicket belongs to Allan Kippax and Hal Hooker where the pair put up a mammoth 307-run stand in the Sheffield Shield fixture for the New South Wales against Victoria back in 1928.

The target of 606 runs was possible due to contributions from batters like Hardik Tomore. The wicket-keeper batter had come out to open the innings and went on to score 114 of 233 deliveries after which was dismissed by Mahesh Pithiya. Prithvi Shaw had come out to bat at number five where he scored 87 off 93 balls to set the tone along with a fifty from Shams Mulani scoring 54 as well.

Ninad Rathva managed to break the partnership as Baroda had the impossible task of chasing down 606 runs with less than a day remaining.

In the quarter-final fixture taking place at the MCA Cricket Ground, the hosts are pretty much assured of their spot in the semis having taken the first-innings lead and the final day still going on.

In the likely scenario of a victory, they will face Tamil Nadu in the semi-finals. TN had already dominantly beaten the defending champions Saurashtra by an innings and 33 runs.