Snehal, Kashyap create Ranji record with epic partnership

Snehal Kauthankar

PANAJI

Goa crushed Arunachal Pradesh by an innings and 551 runs to register their fifth consecutive win in their Ranji Trophy Plate Division group match at the GCA ground in Porvorim on Thursday.

Resuming at 414/2, Goa declared their first innings at a massive 727/2 in 92 overs taking a whopping 643-run first innings lead. Infact, this was the highest total posted by Goa in first-class cricket surpassing their previous best of 618/7 against Chandigarh in January 2024.

The highlight of Goa's innings were the triple tons by Snehal Kauthankar (314 not out) and Kashyap Bakhale (300 not out) who scored their maiden triple centuries. Infact, Snehal and Kashyap slammed the second and third-fastest first-class triple tons by an Indian.

The 29-year-old Kauthankar went past his previous best of 250 from last week’s game against Mizoram and reached his maiden triple hundred in only 205 balls against a weak Arunachal attack. His innings included 4 sixes and 45 fours. His was the highest individual score by a Goan batsman in first class cricket surpassing Sagun Kamat's 304 not out.

Post Lunch, Bakhale reached his triple hundred in 269 balls with 39 fours and two sixes as Goa declared at 727/2. Interestingly, Bakle’s triple ton followed Kauthankar’s to become the third-fastest by an Indian.

Bakhale and Kauthankar also became only the second pair in first class history to record a 600-plus partnership with their unbroken 606 in only 448 balls. Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara still hold the record (624) for the highest stand, achieving it in a Test match against South Africa in Colombo.

Trailing by 643 runs, it was always going to be a herculean task for Arunachal Pradesh. The visitors were bowled out for mere 92 in 22.3 overs in their second innings. In their first innings, they were bowled out for 84.

It took Goa less than two days to wrap up an easy home win.

Expect for skipper Nabam Abo’s unbeaten 31 and wicketkeeper Nebam Hachang's 24, none of the Arunachal Pradesh batsmEn showed any kind of resistance. Infact, eight of their batsmen were out for a single digit score. There was hardly any decent partnership between their batters.

For Goa, Lakshay Garg (4/43) picked up four wickets, while Deepraj Gaonkar (2/15) and Keith Pinto (2/25) took two wickets each.

Both Snehal Kauthankar and Kashyap Bakhle were declared 'Player of the Match' for their fabulous triple tons.

With this win, Goa topped their Plate group with 33 points and has already qualified for Ranji Elite Group next season.

Score Box

Arunachal Pradesh (First Innings) – 84 in 30.3 overs (Nabam Abo 25 not out, Neelam Obi 22, Siddharth Balodi 16, Arjun Tendulkar 5/25, Mohit Redkar 3/15, Keith Pinto 2/31)

Goa (First Innings) – 727/2 declared in 92 overs (Snehal Kauthankar 314 not out, Kashyap Bakhale 300 not out, Suyash Prabhudessai 73, Yab Niya Niia 1/108, Jay Bhavsar 1/178 )

Arunachal Pradesh (Second Innings) – 92 in 22.3 overs (Nabam Abo 31, Nebam Hachang 24, Lakshay Garg 4/43, Deepraj Gaonkar 2/15, Keith Pinto (2/25)