Ajinkya Rahane creates a world record; never got run-out in his 200 partnerships in Tests

For Ajinkya Rahane, the last few months have been a comfortable ride in international cricket. India’s Test vice-captain slammed 115 runs in the first innings of the third Test against South Africa in Ranchi to take his team to a commanding position.

The technically sound middle-order batsman added 267 runs with opener Rohit Sharma who slammed his career-best 212 in just 60 overs after India lost three wickets for 39 runs on Day 1. The hosts declared their first innings in Ranchi at 497 for 9 and then knocked off two quick South Africa wickets to leave them at 9 for 2 at stumps.

Ajinkya Rahane creates a unique world record

Rahane, who hit a century in his last series against the West Indies in August-September, also created a unique record during his 200-run stand in Ranchi. It was his 200th partnership in Test cricket during which neither Rahane nor his partner got run-out, which is a world record.

The Mumbai batsman scored his 11th Test hundred and is nearing a 4,000-run mark in his 61st match. He hit 17 fours and a six during his knock that came in 192 balls. Rahane, who scored a fifty in Pune after having failed in the two innings in Visakhapatnam, chipped in when the South African bowlers made some serious inroads into the Indian batting order. He stemmed the rot along with Rohit as India did not lose their fourth wicket on a day when full play was not possible because of bad light.

The Indian innings was granted strength by a half-century from Ravindra Jadeja (51), a 24 off 42 balls from wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and a 10-ball 31 from tail-ender Umesh Yadav towards the end. The pacer slammed five sixes to take the Indian score to almost 500. George Linde was the most successful South African bowler with 4 for 133 while spearhead Kagiso Rabada took 3 for 85.

The visitors, who have been hit by poor opening in both the earlier Tests, faltered again as openers Dean Elgar (0) and Quinton de Kock (4) fell cheaply. Proteas are currently 150/8 in 45 overs. Zubayr Hamza was the shining light for SA in their whole batting line-up. They still trail by 347 runs in the first innings.

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