Mumbai: Swapnil Gugale (351 not out) and Ankit Bawne (258 not out) smashed records in their marathon undefeated partnership of 594 runs for the third wicket at Wankhede stadium here on Friday. Maharashtra who sent a depleted Delhi attack on the leather hunt for almost two days, finally declared at 635/2.
The Maharashtra duo broke a 70-year-old partnership record for all wickets in the Ranji Trophy in a Group B match against Delhi. The previous record was 577, set by Vijay Hazare and Gul Mohammed for Baroda v Holkar in the 1946-47 season. It is also the highest third wicket partnership in Indian first class cricket eclipsing 539 between Ravindra Jadeja and Sagar Jogyani for Saurashtra versus Gujarat in 2012.
The 25-year-old opening batsman from Pune, Gugale, who got three chances during the innings, remained unbeaten on a career-best 351, that contained five sixes and 37 fours off 521 balls.
The 23-year-old no. 4 batsman Bawne from Aurangabad remained unconquered on a career-best 258 laced with two sixes and 18 fours. Both batsmen joined hands on Thursday after Navdeep Saini (2/44) struck twice in the first hour of first day and took Maharashtra to 290/2 with Gugale on 152 not out and Bawne on 120 not out at stumps on Thursday. Both made the bowlers toil on Friday also and remained unscathed.
