A historic Ranji Trophy match between Assam and Services has etched itself into the record books as the shortest game in 63 years, wrapping up in a stunning 90 overs at the Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground in Kachujan.
Services celebrated their second consecutive victory of the 2025/26 season, securing an impressive eight-wicket win over Assam, building on their earlier success against Tripura in Delhi.
Assam’s first innings was a brief affair, as they were bundled out for just 103 runs in 17.2 overs. This collapse was orchestrated by the sensational bowling duo of Arjun Sharma and Mohit Jangra. Sharma was exceptional, bagging 5 wickets for 46 runs, while Jangra chimed in with 3 for 5. Remarkably, both bowlers achieved hat-tricks in the same innings – a feat unprecedented in first-class cricket.
Despite Assam’s struggles, Services managed only a modest five-run lead, scoring 108 runs in 29.2 overs. For Assam, Riyan Parag delivered a career-best bowling performance, claiming 5 wickets for 25 runs, supported by Rahul Singh’s four-wicket haul.
The second innings proved equally dismal for Assam, who were dismissed for a mere 75 runs in 29.3 overs. Only three batsmen managed to reach double-digit scores, with a concerning four players falling for ducks.
Chasing a target of 71 runs, Services confidently reached their goal in 13.5 overs, losing only two wickets, both of which were taken by the impressive Riyan Parag.
The entire match concluded in just 90 overs (540 balls), with an astonishing 25 wickets tumbling on the first day, and the remaining seven on the second morning. This epic brevity eclipsed the previous record of 547 balls, set way back in 1962 during a clash between Delhi and Railways.
While this match stands as a significant record, the shortest first-class match ever recorded remains the Faisalabad versus Karachi Blues game in the 2004-05 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which lasted a mere 85 balls due to Karachi Blues forfeiting their first innings. Historically, the shortest completed first-class match was played between Tasmania and Victoria in 1851, lasting 352 balls.