(Cricket News) In their 2023–24 Ranji Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh at the NFC Cricket Ground in Secunderabad, Hyderabad’s opener Tanmay Agarwal made history on Friday, finishing Day One at 529/1.

The 28-year-old hammered an unbeaten knock of 323 off 160 balls, packed with 33 fours and 21 sixes, at a strike rate of 201.88, which became the fourth-best strike rate among all batters with at least 200 runs in an innings. It is also the highest strike rate by an Indian batter in first-class cricket.

In addition, the opener became the fastest player in first-class history to reach a triple ton in the format, reaching it in 147 balls after going from 200 to 300 in just 28 deliveries. Hyderabad scored nearly 11 runs per over, and Tanmay’s opening partner Rahul Singh Gahlaut was out for 185 in 105 balls.

Together, they amassed 449 for the first wicket, which is the fifth-best by an Indian pair in the format. Tanmay only needs to hit four more maximums in order to equal the record for most sixes in a single first-class innings, currently held by Colin Munro of New Zealand, who hit 23 sixes in his 281-knock for Auckland against Central Districts in 2014–15.

In the event that he scores 443 on Day 2, he will surpass Bhausaheb Nimbalkar’s 1948 record of 443* for Maharashtra as the highest-scoring Indian batsman.

Brian Lara’s 1994 record of 501* can also be surpassed. Originally, Arunachal Pradesh scored 172 in 39.4 overs, with Techi Doria top-scoring for his team with an unbeaten 97 off 127 balls. Chama Milind and Kartikeya Kak took three wickets apiece for Hyderabad.

In all, 701 runs were scored in 87.4 overs on the day. This is only the second occasion that 700 runs have been scored in a single day in first-class cricket, and it is the first time since 1950 that two sides have combined to score more than 700 runs in a single day of play in the competition.

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