It’s the knockout stages of the Ranji Trophy season of 2016/17 and Gujarat’s Samit Gohel has created history by scoring an unbeaten 359 runs, the highest individual score by an opening batsman while carrying his bat through the innings in first-class cricket.
WORLD RECORD!
Samit Gohel’s 359* is the highest indv score by an opening bat while carrying his bat thro’ the inns in first-class cricket!— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 27, 2016
In the second innings of the third quarter-final match between Gujarat and Odisha in Jaipur, the right-handed batsman amassed his highest score and the fifth triple century of the season so far including that of Sagun Kamat, Rishabh Pant, Priyank Kirit Panchal and Swapnil Gugale. His unbeaten 359 is also now the joint fourth highest score in Ranji Trophy history.
This isn’t all. Samit Gohel’s 359* broke an age old 117-year record set by Surrey’s Bobby Able of 357* against Somerset at The Kia Oval in 1899. Apart from this, he is also the fifth batsman ever in history of first-class cricket to carry his bat through the innings.
The 26-year-old hammered 45 boundaries and one six, having played 723 deliveries. His magnificent knock helped Gujarat take a massive lead of 442 runs, after bundling out Odisha for 199 in the first innings. The massive lead on the board meant Gujarat sealed the semi-final spot alongside Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Mumbai.