Ranji Trophy 2017-18: Uttar Pradesh fails to chase 94 against Railways

The first round of 2017-18 Ranji Trophy season has already witnessed some rare instances with both bat and ball. The game between Uttar Pradesh and Railways recorded only the 2nd instance in 84 years of Ranji Trophy where a team failed to chase down a target of 100 or lower. The home team UP was bowled out just 72 while chasing a target of 94 at the Lucknow’s Ekana International Cricket Stadium.

Railways, who elected to bat first, could muster just 180 runs in the first innings. Ashish Yadav’s unbeaten 53 helped his team to get close to the 200-run mark. Akshdeep Nath’s 75 helped Uttar Pradesh take a 68-run first innings lead as the home team posted 250 on the board. Another brilliant bowling performance from the home side kept the Railways team down to just 161 in the 2nd innings.

Chasing a small total of 94, UP lost six wickets for just 28 runs. The team’s captain, Suresh Raina departed for just 29 and left the home team reeling at 49/7. Rinku Singh, with an unbeaten 23, could only take his team to 72 before they lost their 10th wicket.

The 94-run target is the 2nd lowest a team failed to chase in the Ranji Trophy history and also the 2nd lowest in Indian first-class cricket. Overall, this was the only the 3rd instance in FC cricket in India where a team failed to chase a total under 100. This is only the 11th instance of a team failing while chasing a total under 100 in FC cricket in the last 50 years and also the 3rd lowest unsuccessful run-chase in the 21st century.

Lowest targets teams failed to chase in 4th innings in Indian First-class cricket:

Lowest targets teams failed to chase in First-class cricket in the last 50 years:

A total of 19 wickets fell in the game via lbw which is the joint 2nd most in a first-class game. The record is 20 lbws during the Windies-Pakistan Test match in 2011. 19 lbw dismissals were recorded in the Patiala-Delhi game in 1953 as well.

Most lbw dismissals in a first-class match:

(*Total wickets = Wickets taken by bowlers in the game)

(Stats as on October 8, 2017)