Maharashtra duo shatters Ranji record, but untimely declaration left them 30 runs shy of world record stand

New Delhi: Records tumbled on Friday as Maharashtra batsmen Swapnil Gugale and Ankit Bawne put to sword Delhi bowlers on the second day of their Ranji Trophy match at Wankhede Stadium.

Gugale and Bawne have posted an unbroken 594-run stand for the third wicket as hosts Maharashtra declared their innings at 635 for 2 with seven overs' play left on the second day at the historic ground. In response, Delhi have scored 21 runs in five overs without losing a wicket, still trailing by 614 runs with three days play left in the match.

In the process, they have created a new record, that of highest partnership for any wicket, in India's First-Class cricket. The previous record belonged to legends Vijay Hazare and Gul Mohammad, who compiled 577 runs for the fourth wicket for Baroda against Holkar way back in 1946/47 season.

The previous highest stand for the third wicket was by Sagar Jogiyani and Ravindra Jadeja. The Saurashtra duo posted 539 runs against Gujarat in the 2012/13 season.

Strangely enough, Gugale, who is also the captain of the Maharashtra team declared the innings with their stand still 30 runs behind the world record First-Class partnership.

Gugale, 25, remained not out on 351 off 521 balls, and 23-year-old Bawne took 500 balls to score his 258 runs.

Sri Lankan legends Mahela Jayawardene (374) and Kumar Sangakkara (287) posted 624 runs for the third wicket against South Africa in a Test match at Sinhalese Cricket Ground in 2006. And their stand is likely to remain as the record st.and for quite some time.

The Gugale-Bawne stand is also the fourth 500+ stand ever posted in a Ranji Trophy match. Cheteshwar Pujara and Jadeja posted an unbroken 520-run stand against Orissa in 2008-09 season.