WORLD'S HIGHEST RUNS SCORED IN CRICKET

An Indian schoolboy has smashed one of cricket’s oldest records, with the highest run total ever seen in an organised game.

Pranav Dhanawade, a 15-year-old student of KC Gandhi School, became the first ever batsman to reach 1000 runs, hitting the whopping total in just 323 balls. Dhanawade had reached the unbelievable score of 1009 not out in the Bhandari Trophy match against Arya Gurukul School in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Even then, the sheer numbers make for mind-boggling reading. Dhanawade, the son of an autorickshaw driver, faced just 323 deliveries. The relatively smaller dimensions of the ground — the straight boundary being the longest at 60 yards — perhaps contributed to the 129 fours and 59 sixes hit by Dhanawade, and the strike rate of 312.38. On two occasions, windows from a nearby building were smashed.

Just after Dhanawade surpassed the milestone late on the second day of the match, his side declared with an immense 1465 first innings total, with the 15-year-old finishing on 1009 not out.

The young cricket sensation’s innings included 59 sixes and 129 fours. The figures of the opposition bowlers made for nightmare reading.

Dhanawade surpassed the previous world record for an individual score midway through his innings, hammering past English schoolboy Arthur Collins’ 1899 record of 628. The 15-year-old had already reached the all-time record at the close of the first day, having hit 82 fours and 42 sixes to give himself a total of 652 not out.

WORLD'S HIGHEST SCORING ODI PARTERNERSHIP

The highest-scoring batting partnership in a one-day international is 331, by Sachin Tendulkar ( 186 not out ) and Rahul Dravid ( 153 ) for India v New Zealand at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad, India, on 8 November 1999. They scored in the second wicket. The one day international match was against New Zealand, in the season of 1999.

The second highest batting partnership in a one-day international (318 runs) is also held by Rahul Dravid along with Saurav Ganguly.

WORLD'S HIGHEST CRICKET GROUND

The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after levelling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters (7,500 feet) above sea level. The ground itself is located three km from the village of Chail. The Maharaja of Patiala Bhupinder Singh was a cricket enthusiast and had a vast stretch of land flattened in the Himalayan terrain for cricket. The Maharaja used to play friendly matches with the Britishers.

History says that in 1891, Maharaj Bhupinder Singh of Patiala incurred the wrath of Lord Kitchener. It led to the restriction of his entry into the summer capital of India, Shimla. This incensed the Maharaja and he vowed to build a new summer capital for himself. So he rebuilt the place (Chail) as per his requirements.

For many years, the cricket ground merited a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records. Though the record has not been broken, Guinness Book has decided to delete the documentation because no competitive cricket is being conducted there. Today, local youth use the venue for inter-school matches and units of the Indian Army located nearby hold their sports meets and march-pasts. The sprawling grounds are well-kept with manicured lawns. The cricket ground, and also the whole village of Chail is surrounded by the forests of Chir Pine and giant Deodars trees.

Despite its unique location, Chail cricket ground is today starved of first class matches. Since long no international cricket have been played there. However many world class players of India still come to practice there and HP cricket association has plans so as to bring international cricket to Chail soon.
You can enjoy an amazing view of Sutlej Valley, Shimla and Kasauli at night from here. On the other side of the town are situated the massive Himalayan ranges spectacularly gleaming in the sun and snow- covered every thing under it.

Local youth believe that the ground despite so much neglect can still be restored. It can also promote tourism in the region. They want the ground to be properly developed as a cricket ground.

Himachal Pradesh government is also interested in building a cricket stadium at this highest ground. "This cricket ground is under the possession of the Army. We are planning to request them to hand over the land to us for the purpose of making a stadium. Whether it is Chail''s cricket ground or Anne Dale Ground at Shimla, we are ready to give a compensatory land to the army people. We will speak to the State Cricket Association and will make good cricket stadiums at Chail and Shimla," said Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

See the bird's eye view from Wikimapia here.