The Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground hosted its first Ranji Trophy match in 24 years, witnessing both a remarkable performance and history as Services bowlers made history on the first day of the second round of the Ranji Trophy, achieving two hat-tricks.

Assam were reduced to 45 for the loss of five wickets in a flash. Captain Riyan Parag was the first victim of Services left-arm spinner Arjun Sharma before he proceeded to take out wicket-keeper Sumit Ghadigaonkar and Sibsankar Roy and record the first Ranji Trophy hat-trick of the season.

Assam’s decision to bat first after winning the toss grew murkier after lunch in the North-Eastern town when Arjun’s teammate and left-arm pacer Mohit Jangra bagged the second hat-trick of the innings. Jangra cleaned up opener Pradyun Saikia, who waged a lone battle with his quick-fire 52 off 42 laced with two fours and six sixes, off the final delivery of the 15th over. He returned to dismiss Assam No. 9 Mukhtar Hussain and No. 10 Bhargab Lakhar to claim his maiden First-Class hat-trick before Arjun returned to claim his five-wicket haul (5/46).

It is the first instance in Ranji Trophy history where two bowlers have bagged hat-tricks in the same innings of a match. Previously, Joginder Singh Rao, a former player for Services nearly five decades ago, had recorded two hat-tricks in the same innings of a match.

Rao remains the only Indian to have bagged multiple hat-tricks in the same First-Class innings, having achieved the feat in a game against Northern Punjab in Amritsar in 1963.

Assam were finally folded for only 103 in 17.3 overs before skipper Parag opened the bowling and racked up two wickets in the first over.