Swapnil Gugale, Ankit Bawne Set Ranji Trophy Cricket Record Stand

Maharashtra's Swapnil Gugale and Ankit Bawne set a new record partnership for any wicket in Ranji Trophy history, when they stitched together an unbeaten stand of 594 runs in a Group B match against Delhi on Friday.

At the time of declaration, Swapnil Gugale was unbeaten at 351, while Ankit Bawne was 258 not out as Mahasrashtra reached a commanding total of 635/2 on Day 2 of the match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The batting pair faced 1021 deliveries in total, hitting 55 fours and 7 sixes. Skipper Gugale faced 521 of those deliveries, with 37 fours and 5 sixes to his name. On the other hand, Bawne took 500 balls to reach his score. In a rather patient innings, he hit 18 fours and two sixes.

Due to the declaration, the duo, who had been at the crease after two early wickets on Day 1, missed the world record partnership for any wicket in first class cricket by just 30 runs.

The current record is held by Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, who stitched together a partnership of 624 runs in a Test match vs South Africa in 2006.

Maharashtra 635/2d (from 41/2)
Stand btw Swapnil Gugale 351* & Ankit Bawne 258* - 594* runs
vs Delhi @ Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai#RanjiTrophy

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 14, 2016

The previous record for the highest ever partnership in Ranji Trophy was a 577-run stand between Vijay Hazare and Gul Mohammed for Baroda's fourth wicket in the 1946/47 final.

Swapnil Gugale, meanwhile, also created a new record for the highest ever score by a batsman at a neutral venue in first-class cricket.

Swapnil Gugale 351* is now the highest individual score made at a neutral venue (Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai) in fc history!#RanjiTrophy

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 14, 2016