Services etched their name into cricket history on Sunday by defeating Assam by eight wickets in what became the shortest-ever Ranji Trophy match, measured by the number of balls bowled. The two-day encounter at the Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground lasted only 540 deliveries, surpassing a record that had stood for more than six decades.
The previous record dated back to January 1962, when Railways and Delhi played a match that ended in 547 balls. In that fixture, Railways were bowled out for 40 in their first innings, before Delhi posted 137 and then dismissed Railways for just 44 to claim an innings victory.
In contrast, the Services–Assam contest was a modern-day rout, remarkable both for its brevity and its dramatic bowling displays. On the opening day, Services’ bowlers tore through Assam’s batting lineup, with two players — Arjun Sharma and Mohit Jangra — achieving hat-tricks in the same innings, an exceedingly rare feat in first-class cricket.
Left-arm spinner Arjun Sharma triggered the collapse by dismissing Riyan Parag, Sumit Ghadigaonkar, and Sibsankar Roy in successive deliveries. Not long after, right-arm seamer Mohit Jangra joined the party, cleaning up Pradyun Saikia — Assam’s lone half-centurion — before removing Mukhtar Hussain and Bhargab Pratim Lahkar to complete his own hat-trick. Assam’s innings folded for just 103 runs in 17.2 overs, leaving the home fans stunned.
Services, riding high on momentum, enforced total control over the match. Chasing a modest target of 71 on the second morning, they needed only 13.5 overs to seal victory, losing two wickets along the way. The swift chase underscored the dominance of their bowling unit and the confidence of their top order in tricky batting conditions.
The win not only handed Services a historic record but also propelled them to the top of the Elite Group C standings, where they now lead with 13 points from two matches. Assam, meanwhile, sits fifth with just a solitary point, left to regroup after a humbling defeat that will long be remembered for its place in the record books.
With both a double hat-trick and a match completed inside 540 balls, Services’ emphatic triumph at Tinsukia will stand as one of the most remarkable performances in Ranji Trophy history.
