Muzumdar becomes highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy

Amol Muzumdar on Saturday became the highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy history after his fluent century against Himachal Pradesh helped Andhra finish Day 1 on a strong 331 for seven in their Ranji Trophy Group C match on Saturday.

Bodapati Sumanth also played a chanceless knock of 102 runs to put the visitors in a commanding position at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium in Nadaun, Himachal Pradesh.

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Muzumdar, who moved to Andhra this season, started the match 68 runs behind Wasim Jaffer's record Ranji run-tally of 8320. His 101-run knock helped him reclaim a record he had earlier held before Jaffer overtook his tally.

In the process, Muzumdar also completed his 24th century in Ranji Trophy history, drawing level with Vinod Kambli's tally.

Delhi's Ajay Sharma holds the record with 31 hundreds in Ranji Trophy.

After being put into bat, the visitors were in a spot of bother as they had lost three wickets for 60 runs at one stage but Sumanth and Muzumdar dug in deep and rescued the side.

Muzumdar was more aggressive of the two batsmen as the Mumbai veteran took 165 balls for his 101-run knock, studded with 15 boundaries.

Sumanth's though was a sedate knock as he took 198 balls for his 102, which contained 13 fours.

The two-right handers put on 196-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Vikramjeet Malik had provided Himachal a good start by accounting for Prasanth Kumar (9) in the ninth over of the day. Rishi Dhawan scalped skipper A G Pradeep (7) and Hemal Watekar (31) to leave the side reeling at 60 for three.

However, Sumanth and Muzumdar held on together and drove the side to a good position.

Right-arm pacer Jitendra Mehta snapped up Sumanth while Muzumdar fell for Dhawan. Syed Sahabuddin (10) and Shaik Basha (5) did not last long as Malik accounted for both the wickets.