Maharashtra cricketer Pritam Patil creates history; scores first triple-century in 50-over cricket
Maharashtra cricketer Pritam Patil smashed 306 runs off just 134 balls for PYC Hindu Gymkhana as they beat Nanded by a margin of 508 runs in a 50-over game in the Maharashtra Cricket Association's senior invitation league, Mumbai Mirror reports.
The turn of the year saw Mumbai teenager Pranav Dhanawade become the first cricketer to smash more than 1000 runs in an innings and a little over a month later, we have witnessed yet another record-breaking feat.
The highest individual score in ODI cricket belongs to Rohit Sharma, who also hails from Maharashtra.
“This is definitely the highest score by an individual in a 50-over match. Additionally, the win margin of 508 runs is also a record in itself for a 50-over game," claimed the PYC coach.
“He (Patil) literally massacred the attack. Nanded's bowling was average, but nevertheless, they were the best-selected players of their district."
It is definitely hard to disagree with Pande’s judgement when it came to how Patil simply blew away the opposition with his wide array of strokes. He smashed as many as 28 fours and 26 sixes as Nanded were knocked out of the contest even before the half-way mark.
In fact, Patil accounted for as many as six new balls as he smashed half-a-dozen hits out of the stadium.
If Nanded thought that their day couldn’t get any worse, their batsmen were bundled out for just 86 runs in 18.4 overs to complete day of absolute mauling with PYC emerging outright winners by more than 500 runs.
Patil’s triple century fetches a new bat as gift
Making the day all the more sweet for Patil was his idol and teammate on the day Kedar Jadhav gifting him an SS cricket bat, that costs around INR 25000, after his blistering knock. The story goes that Jadhav had delivered a message out to the middle when Patil had reached his double century that he will gift him the bat should he complete a triple century.
Not that Patil needed any motivation to continue his massacre of the opposition bowlers, but he accepted the challenge without a glitch to find himself with a brand new bat once he came back to the dressing room.
Although, one wonders whether he would be willing to part with the one he used during his knock today.
Talking about Patil’s record-breaking innings, Jadhav said: "Patil usually gets us 60-70 runs. Yesterday, he middled the ball straight away and moved his feet very well. He deserves all the appreciation since no one has ever scored so many runs in a 50-over game."
As for the man himself, Patil was happier about the fact that his idol presented him with a gift, rather than the knock itself.
"I was already euphoric after my innings and it just got better when I got a bat from my batting idol Kedar. I couldn't have asked for more," said Patil.