Kolkata : Maharashtra veteran Cricketer Ankeet Bawane inscribed his name into history books as he became the 1st Maharashtra player in First Class Cricket to score 8000 runs, becoming leading run scorer for the side.
Bawane surpassed former Maharashtra legend Surendra Bhave’s record of 7971 FC runs. The 31 years old achieved this feat against Mumbai in Group stage Match in Ranji Trophy 2024. His efforts were even appreciated by current Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad in his social media post.
Inscribing his name in history books and becoming leading run scorer for Maharashtra, whom he’s serving since 2007, he now holds the record of playing 119 First Class Matches, scoring 8024 runs in 189 innings with a whooping average of 51.43 including 40 Half Centuries and 24 Centuries, best score of 258*.
In the Match, Maharashtra got bundled up for 126 runs in 1st innings, in reply Mumbai piled up 441 runs, taking a huge lead of 315 runs.
Having lost skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad who scored a ton and rest of the top order for 274 runs and yet trailing, Bawane took things in his hands.
Despite losing wickets from other end, Bawane stood tall like a lone warrior against a formidable Mumbai bowling line up, refusing to give up.
In no time, he scored his 24th First Class Century, and became 1st Maharashtra player to score 8000 runs in First Class Cricket, also leading run scorer for the club, achieving the historic feat.
His knock of 101 (152) included 10 boundaries and formed vital partnerships with the lower middle order, taking the score to 388 runs.
However, despite all hard efforts, Mumbai clinched the Match by 9 wickets.
None the less, Bawane touched the historic feat in this match and will go down as Maharashtra legend by the end of his career.
