M A I N   N E W S

Record low in Ranji

Jaipur, November 1
Hyderabad recorded the lowest total in the history of Ranji Trophy when they were bowled out for just 21 runs against Rajasthan, as the new season began on a sensational note here today.

Eighteen-year-old debutant Deepak Chahar wreaked havoc by taking eight wickets to inflict a humiliating defeat on Hyderabad. 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 India's first-class cricket history. Way back in 1915-16, Mohammedans were also out for 21 against Bombay Quadrangular. Hyderabad were all out in 15.3 overs in 78 minutes in their first innings in the plate-division match after host skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar won the toss and elected to field.

Not even a single Hyderabad batsman could manage a double digit score and three of them even failed to open their account. Opener Akshat Reddy (6) was the top scorer for the visitors.

Medium pacer Chahar would have not have thought of such a dream debut as he recorded sensational figures of 7.3-2-10-8. His pace colleague Pankaj Singh claimed the other two wickets.

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 that 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. — PTI