Assam, October 27: Cricket in Tinsukia witnessed history unfold this weekend — a Ranji Trophy match that ended almost as quickly as it began. On Sunday, Services trounced Assam by eight wickets in a contest that lasted just 540 balls, setting a new record for the shortest-ever Ranji Trophy match in terms of deliveries bowled.
The record — previously held for over six decades by a Railways–Delhi encounter in 1962 — tumbled amid a breathtaking display of pace, spin, and sheer dominance from the Services bowlers.
What made this victory extraordinary wasn’t just the brevity of the match, but the rare twin hat-tricks that lit up the opening day. Left-arm spinner Arjun Sharma and pacer Mohit Jangra turned the Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground into a theatre of collapses, claiming three wickets apiece in consecutive deliveries.
For Arjun, the moment came when Assam’s middle order folded in a blur — Riyan Parag, Sumit Ghadigaonkar, and Sibsankar Roy all dismissed in quick succession. Before the spectators could settle, Jangra joined the act, dismantling the lower order by removing Pradyun Saikia, who had battled to a fighting half-century, along with Mukhtar Hussain and Bhargab Pratim Lahkar. Assam were shot out for a meagre 103 in just 17.2 overs, their innings lasting barely an hour and a half.
The next day, Services chased down a modest target of 71 with clinical ease, reaching the mark in 13.5 overs for the loss of only two wickets. It was more a procession than a pursuit — an inevitable conclusion to a match that had already carved its place in the record books by Day 1.
The win lifted Services to the top of the Elite Group C standings with 13 points from two matches, while Assam’s struggles continued, languishing fifth with a solitary point.
But statistics alone cannot capture the surreal nature of what unfolded in Tinsukia. The match was a throwback to the bygone era of uncovered pitches and fiery spells, where batters were tested by movement and turn on every delivery. It served as a reminder that in the modern age of high scores and flat tracks, cricket can still be cruelly brief — and brutally beautiful.
For Services, it was a weekend of perfection: two hat-tricks, a record-breaking win, and a place in domestic cricket folklore.
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