Opening batsman breaks 117-year-old first class record of highest individual score by opener against Odisha, Parthiv & Co enter semis
The Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur, with less than 100 spectators witnessed a 117-year-old world record being shattered for the highest individual runs in First-Class cricket by an opener while carrying his bat through the innings.
Gujarat opener Samit Gohel entered the history books after scoring an unbeaten on 359*in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals against Odisha on Tuesday.
Gujarat eventually went on to win the game and enter the semifinals on the basis of their first innings lead. The Parthiv Patel-led outfit also beat their previous highest team total in Ranji Trophy of 640 against Maharashtra in 1995-96, by one run.
Gohel's marathon knock of 723-balls comprised 45 hits to the fence and one over it.
The 26-year-old Gohel also became the fourth batsman to score a triple century in first class cricket and carry his bat through the innings.
Anand-born Gohel revealed the secret behind his historical knock. "I went with a positive set of mind, my motive was to convert the loose balls into boundaries and sixes and keep rotating the strike as much as possible," Gohel said.
Like other cricketers, Gohel is particular about his bat. "My bat weight is always around 1,170 grams, I like to use medium weighted bat," he said when asked about the same.
This knock will remain his favourite, but before that his century for his school is closest to his heart. "Now the present knock will be my most memorable innings, but earlier I remember scoring a century for BJVM Vallabh Vidyanagar. We were going to be the champions for the third time in a row and I played an important knock. That was a special innings and I can never forget that."
Gohel began his cricket at the age of 12 under local coaches in Anand. Devang Desai, one of his coaches, was happy with his lad's feat. "Samit's basics was sound. The first ground he trained at was Shashtri Maidan, Vidyanagar. He was very dedicated. I had always asked him to go step by step not to focus on scoring big but to keep the basics right," said Desai.
Samit's mother Ila couldn't hide her emotions. "I'm very happy. He has made us proud. The atmosphere at home is extremely cheerful, the relatives and former coaches have all gathered together," she said.
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