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Sanju Samson makes Vijay Hazare Trophy history with unbeaten 212

Sanju Samson's career-best 212 not out, the highest individual score in Vijay Hazare Trophy history, was the headline as Kerala took on Goa in an Elite Group A game in Alur on Saturday.

It was Samson's maiden List A century - he has two T20 hundreds and nine in first-class cricket - and when he doubled it, it became only the eighth instance of an Indian scoring a List A double, five of which have come in ODIs: three by Rohit Sharma, and one each by Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Those aside, there is Shikhar Dhawan's 248 for India A against South Africa A in Pretoria in 2013 and Karn Veer Kaushal's 202 for Uttarakhand against Sikkim in last season's Vijay Hazare Trophy, the first time a double was scored in the tournament.

Samson also put up 338 runs - the highest third-wicket partnership in List A history - with Sachin Baby, who hit 127 in 135 balls, to take the team total to 377 for 3 in 50 overs. Theirs was also the highest partnership by an Indian pair in List A games, topping Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid's previous record of 331.

Coming in to bat after opener Robin Uthappa was given out obstructing the field in the fourth over, Samson accelerated steadily in his innings, racing to 52 off 30 balls. Baby joined him at the crease in the eighth over, and the duo upped the scoring rate from the 13th over onwards. Samson went from 50 to 100 in 36 balls and in just 33 more balls, he had brought up his 150.

Baby, the more subdued of the two, brought up his century off 122 balls, and together they pushed the team total beyond 350 in 48 overs. Samson moved to 199 with a six and then brought up his 200 off just 125 balls, taking 26 balls to score the last 50. Baby was dismissed with five balls left in Kerala's innings, while Samson remained unbeaten, his innings studded with 21 fours and ten sixes.

Legspinner Amit Verma was the only Goa bowler to finish with an economy rate below six, while the rest of them went at over seven, seamer Heramb Parab going for 76 runs in the nine overs he bowled.

Goa 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st20AS DesaiAD Kaushik
2nd52SK KamatAD Kaushik
3rd79AD KaushikTT Sawkar
4th26AD KaushikSS Prabhudessai
5th5CM GautamSS Prabhudessai
6th29CM GautamSS Kauthankar
7th35Amit VermaSS Kauthankar
8th14DW MisalSS Kauthankar
9th13DW MisalLA Garg

Vijay Hazare Trophy

Elite, Cross Pool
TeamMWLPTNRR
KNTKA871281.17
DELHI852220.306
PNJB852220.804
CGR852220.066
MUM842200.832
UP842200.724
HYD843180.734
JHK84416-0.231
KER844160.435
MAHA83316-0.073
HP834140.039
ODSA83414-1.052
BRODA835120.23
VIDAR83512-0.061
SAU83512-0.648
HRYNA83512-0.978
AP8166-1.122
GOA8166-1.616
Elite, Group C
TeamMWLPTNRR
TN990361.869
GUJ981321.246
BENG952240.196
SVCS95420-0.339
TPURA94516-0.279
J + K94516-0.427
MP93514-0.369
RLYS92512-0.28
RAJ92610-0.099
BIHAR9090-1.706
Plate Group
TeamMWLPTNRR
PONDI970323.523
CHD962260.759
UKHND951262.236
ASSAM963241.67
NAGA94222-0.14
MEGHA934160.559
ARP92610-1.373
MNPR91510-1.807
MIZO9168-2.276
SIKM9176-1.847