Recently, Bengal batsman Sudip Gharami missed a historic Ranji Trophy triple century as he was dismissed for 299 in the quarterfinal clash against Andhra Pradesh, but his innings powered Bengal towards a semifinal berth.
The Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani witnessed both cricketing tragedy and brilliance during Sudip Gharami’s 930-minute vigil. He faced 596 deliveries, striking 31 fours and six sixes, before Sheikh Rasheed’s delivery crashed into his stumps.
While dismissals in the nervous nineties (99) are not rare, and dismissals on 199 have also been witnessed, being dismissed for 299 falls into the rarest category.
In Tests:
Total number of dismissals on 99: 80
Total number of dismissals on 199: 12
Total number of dismissals on 299: 1
Records Sudip Gharami Created:
He is the first batsman in the Ranji Trophy to be dismissed for 299. Maharashtra’s Shantanu Sugwekar had also scored 299 (against Madhya Pradesh in 1988–89) but remained not out.
He is only the third batsman in first-class cricket to be dismissed for 299 (the others being Martin Crowe and Michael Powell).
His marathon effort of 930 minutes is the longest innings in terms of time for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy.
Now only time will tell how the BCCI senior selection committee takes note of Sudip Gharami’s performances — not only this innings (which was witnessed by national selector RP Singh), but also his overall season. He has scored 797 runs at an average of 56.92, with three centuries, including his maiden first-class double hundred, in 14 innings, and was fourth on the run charts heading into the semifinals.
Trivia on Missed Triple Hundreds (Score of 299)
First batter to be dismissed for 299 in first-class cricket: New Zealand’s Martin Crowe, in a Test against Sri Lanka in Wellington in 1990–91. Crowe failed to bear the burden of the impending milestone, and a gentle medium-pace delivery from Arjuna Ranatunga found him choked. Crowe later wrote:
“I didn't concentrate. Out for 299 — tell me it's not true! Tears streamed down my face as I realised that this opportunity might never happen again.”
He was spot on.
Second batter to be dismissed for 299 in first-class cricket: Glamorgan’s Michael Powell, in a County Championship match against Gloucestershire in Cheltenham in 2006. He would have become only the second man to score a triple hundred at Cheltenham College (the first was W.G. Grace).
First batter to score 299 not out in first-class cricket: Australia’s Don Bradman, against South Africa in Adelaide in 1931–32. When No. 11 Hugh “Pud” Thurlow was run out, Bradman was left stranded on 299*. Incidentally, many believe Bradman was partly responsible for the run-out after sending Thurlow back. Thurlow, who was making his Test debut, did not score, take a wicket, or hold a catch in his only Test match.
Second batter to score 299 not out in first-class cricket: Maharashtra’s Shantanu Sugwekar, in a Ranji Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh in Pune in 1988–89. His No. 11 partner, Anil Walhekar, batted for 110 minutes, scored 38, and added 102 runs before getting out. Sugwekar later recalled:
“The moment he saw the stumps rattled, he started crying. He was crying so much, I didn't know how to react. I told him, ‘Jo hota hai hota hai.’ Once in the pavilion, I realised that I had missed a triple hundred.”
In the story of missing out on 300, Virender Sehwag’s case is particularly interesting. He was set to become the first player to score three triple centuries in Tests during the 2009 Mumbai Test against Sri Lanka. As the second day’s play was nearing its end, Sehwag was closing in on 300. His on-field partner, Rahul Dravid, advised him to remain patient, end the day’s play, and reach 300 the following morning.
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Sehwag followed the advice and finished the day on 284*. However, the next morning, Muttiah Muralitharan dismissed him for 293. Sehwag later admitted:
“I shouldn't have listened to Dravid. The way I was playing Murali that day, I shouldn't have missed the opportunity.”