Stats: Saurashtra chase down 372 against Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final

Saurashtra scripted an amazing turn around in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Uttar Pradesh to defeat the hosts by six wickets during a record run chase. Uttar Pradesh posted 385 in their first innings after electing to bat first on the back of a brilliant 150 from Rinku Singh. The home team gained a 177-run first innings lead bundling out Saurashtra to just 208. Things could have been worse for the Jaydev Unadkat-led team if not for the fifties from Harvik Desai (84) and Prerak Mankad (67).

In the second essay, the Saurashtra bowlers delivered and they skittled UP out for just 194. The hosts were cruising at 107/1 with a lead of 284 and nine wickets in hand. This collapse got Saurashtra back their belief and the team looked determined in the chase of 372. Opener Desai starred with the bat once again by scoring 116 in his 259-ball innings that included 16 fours. He shared a 132-run opening stand with Snell Patel who contributed 72.

On the final morning, the visiting team was reduced to 236/4 with another 136 runs to be scored. The experience of Cheteshwar Pujara and Sheldon Jackson made this task easy as the duo put on an unbeaten 136-run stand from 34.2 overs. Pujara finished on 67 while Jackson made 73 to help Saurashtra record the highest successful chase in Ranji Trophy history. The record was previously held by Assam who had scaled down 371 against Services during 2008/09 season.

Assam got there having surpassed Rajasthan’s 360-run chase from the 1989/90 season against Vidarbha. Earlier this season, Rajasthan recorded the then 3rd highest chase in the Ranji Trophy when they chased 357 for the loss of five wickets against Services. Prior to this 372-run chase, the highest Saurashtra ever chased in the Ranji Trophy was 325 against Karnataka also in a quarter-final match during the 2008/09 season. Pujara was unbeaten on 112 during that game against Karnataka.

Highest successful run chases in Ranji Trophy:

(Stats as on January 19, 2019)

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