If Tanmay Agarwal scores 443 on Day 2, he will be the Indian batter with the highest first-class score.
Hyderabad opener Tanmay Agarwal made history on Friday, finishing Day One at 529/1 in their 2023-24 Ranji Trophy meeting with Arunachal Pradesh at the NFC Cricket Ground in Secunderabad.The 28-year-old hit an unbeaten 323 off 160 balls, including 33 fours and 21 sixes, for a strike rate of 201.88, making him the fourth-best strike rate among all batters with at least 200 runs in an innings. It is also an Indian batter’s finest performance in first-class cricket.
The opener also became the fastest batsman to hit a triple ton in first-class cricket, racing from 200 to 300 in 28 deliveries and finishing in 147 balls.
Hyderabad scored over 11 runs per over, with Tanmay’s opening partner Rahul Singh Gahlaut departing for 185 in 105 balls. The combination scored 449 for the first wicket, the fifth-best by an Indian pair in first-class cricket. Tanmay, who has already scored 20 sixes in a single first-class innings, simply needs four more. Colin Munro of New Zealand now holds the record, having scored 23 sixes for Auckland versus Central Districts during his 281-knock in 2014/15.
If he scores 443 on Day 2, he will be the Indian hitter with the highest first-class score. The current record-holder is Bhausaheb Nimbalkar, who registered 443* for Maharashtra in 1948. The overall record, set by Brian Lara (501*) in 1994, can also be broken.
Initially, Arunachal Pradesh scored 172 in 39.4 overs, with Techi Doria leading the way with an unbeaten 97 off 127 balls. For Hyderabad, Chama Milind and Kartikeya Kak both claimed three wickets.
Overall, 701 runs were scored on the day in 87.4 overs, which is only the second occasion the 700-run mark has been broken in a single day of first-class cricket. It is also the first time since 1950 that two teams have combined for more than 700 in a single day of play under the format.
