Ranji Trophy 2018-19: Nagaland creates history with mammoth total

According to noted sports statistician, Mohandas Menon, earlier, only Northern India had scored 459-7 (declared) against Army in 1934.

Rongsen Jonathan (sitting; third from right) with the Nagaland cricket team and officials. (File Photo)

As Nagaland amassed a huge total of 530-8 against Mizoram in its first-ever Ranji Trophy fixture on Friday, it also created history by becoming the first team to score 500-plus runs on Ranji Trophy debut.

According to noted sports statistician, Mohandas Menon, earlier, only Northern India had scored 459-7 (declared) against Army in 1934. Menon could not find any 500-plus totals on debut by any team.

As the team put up a huge total, thanks to a double century by Abrar Kazi, the cricket enthusiasts of the state were busy searching for record books or browse the internet. Because the BCCI-affiliated scorers present in the stadium did not make any such announcements.

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That forced the state association officials to call up journalists to find out if that indeed was a record. "We have been receiving calls from local cricket fans, who want to know if this is the record. But, we could not confirm them as we were not sure," the association secretary, Ahidur Rahman, said.

Even Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, who also heads the cricket association, called up the cricket officials to know if the team had actually created history. "Many people even dialled the Chief Minister's Office directly. Ever since the team put 500-plus runs, everyone was excited," Rahman explained.

Stepping into the Ranji Trophy circuit for the first time, the state from the northeast has started off with a bang. And, the fans hope that the team creates many such feats in the future.