crickick.com brings to its viewers a special interesting snippets of NKP Salve Challenger Trophy matches of the previous fourteen editions. Read on ……..

The first ever Challenger series was played in 1994-95 season. The participating teams were India, India A and India B. The games were played at Calcutta and India won the final by 73 runs. The finalists were India and India A. The final was played on 31.03.05

The ensuing edition of 2009-10 which is scheduled to be played at Nagpur is the 15^th edition of the Challenger Series.

The following table lists out the finalists of the previous fourteen editions of Challenger series.

No	Season	Team	Vs	Opp	Venue	Date
1	94-95	Ind	Vs	IndA	Calcutta	31.03.95
		Ind	Won	By	073	Runs
2	95-96	Ind	Vs	IndA	Hyderabad	31.12.95
		Ind	Won	By	033	Runs
3	96-97	Ind B	Vs	Ind	Mohali	01.10.96
		Ind	Won	By	007	wkts
4	97-98	Ind	Vs	IndB	Mumbai	13.10.97
		Ind	Won	By	031	Runs
5	98-99	Ind A	Vs	IndB	Ahmedabad	18.10.98
		NR	Match	Abd
6	99-00	Ind	Vs	IndA	Ahmedabad	13.03.00
		Ind	Won	By	084	Runs
7	00-01	Ind A	Vs	Ind	Chennai	15.02.01
		Ind	Won	By	004	Wkts
8	01-02	Ind	Vs	IndA	Bangalore	13.01.02
		Ind A	Won	By	008	Wkts
9	2003	Ind A	Vs	IndB	Bangalore	14.09.03
		Ind A	Won	By	099	Runs
10	04-05	Ind	Vs	IndB	Mumbai	10.02.05
		Ind A	Won	By	006	Wkts
11	05-06	Ind B	Vs	Ind	Mohali	13.10.05
		Ind	Won	By	003	Wkts
12	06-07	Blue	Vs	Red	Chennai	04.10.06
		NR	Match	Abd
13	07-08	Blue	Vs	Red	Ahmedabad	28.10.07
		Blue	Won	By	006	Wkts
14	08-09	Blue	Vs	Red	Cuttack	26.10.08
		Blue	Won	By	008	Wkts

Two finals were abandoned {1998-99 and 2006-07}, India has won on seven occasions, India A on three occasions and India Blue on two occasions.

The teams India, India A and India B were renamed as India Blue, India Red and India Green from the 2006-07 season.

The tournament has witnessed 25 centuries so far, with SC Ganguly’s 142 {Ind vs Ind B at Chennai on 13.02.01} as the highest individual score. The credit of registering the the first hundred fell on SV Manjrekar who scored 117 in the match between Ind A vs Ind B at Calcutta on 20.03.95. He was leading Ind A in this game.

The final of the tournament has witnessed five hundreds which are tabulated below. VVS Laxman and SS Das as opening batsmen registered hundreds in the finals of 1999-00 season at Ahmedabad on 13.03.00, which is a unique feat in the tournament finals. Dinesh Karthik’s 116 not out remains the highest individual score by batsman in the tournament finals.

No	Batsmen	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Tendulakr	113	Ind	Ind B	Mohali	01.10.96
2	Das	114	Ind	Ind A	Ahmedabad	13.03.00
3	Laxman	105	Ind	Ind A	Ahmedabad	13.03.00
4	Badani	104*	Ind	Ind A	Chennai	15.02.01
5	Kartnik	116*	Blue	Red	Ahmedabad	28.10.07

The tournament has witnessed five occasions of captains registering hundreds which are listed below. R Dravid remains the only captain to register two hundreds in the tournament – scored 107 while leading Ind B vs Ind at Bangalore on 11.09.03 and made 115 while leading Ind A vs Ind B at Mumbai on 09.02.05

No	Batsmen	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Manjrekar	117	Ind A	Ind B	Calcutta	20.03.95
2	Ganguly	142	Ind	Ind B	Chennai	13.02.01
3	Dravid	107	Ind B	Ind	Bangalore	11.09.03
4	Dravid	115	Ind A	Ind B	Mumbai	09.02.05
5	Laxman	110	Ind A	Ind B	Mohali	12.10.05

As many as thirteen hundreds have been registered by opening batsmen in the tournament. S Ganguly’s 142 remain the highest individual score by an opening batsman {for Ind vs Ind B at Chennai on 13.02.01}.

SR Tendulkar has the distinction of registering most hundreds as opening batsman in the tournament. He has scored three hundreds which are tabulated below

No	Batsman	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Tendulakr	113	Ind	Ind B	Mohali	01.10.96
2	Tendulkar	139	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
3	Tendulkar	104*	Ind	Ind B	Mohali	29.09.96

Dinesh Mongia and SR Tendulkar have registered three hundreds in the tournament and share the record for most hundreds. Their feats are tabulated below

No	Batsmen	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Mongia	131	Ind B	Ind	Bangalore	11.01.02
2	Mongia	102	Ind B	Ind	Chennai	13.02.01
3	Moniga	121	Ind B	Ind A	Bangalore	13.09.03
1	Tendulakr	113	Ind	Ind B	Mohali	01.10.96
2	Tendulkar	139	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
3	Tendulkar	104*	Ind	Ind B	Mohali	29.09.96

MS Dhoni {102 not out for India vs India B at Mumbai on 08.02.05} and KRD Karthik {116 not out for India Blue vs India Red at Ahmedabad on 28.10.07} remain the two wicket keeper batsmen to register hundreds in the tournament. The latter’s 116 not out remains the highest individual score by a wicket keeper batsman in the tournament

As many as 14 individual nineties have been witnessed in the tournament so far. Yuvraj Singh is the only batsman to register “Ninety Nine Not out” in the tournament {for Ind vs Ind B at Mohali on 11.10.05.

Mohd Kaif, RV Uthappa, SK Raina, V Sehwag are the four batsman in the tournament to register nineties on two occasions.

No	Batsman	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Kaif	93	Ind B	Ind A	Ahmedabad	12.02.00
2	Kaif	90	Ind B	Ind	Ahmedabad	11.02.00
1	Uthappa	92	Red	Green	Chennai	03.10.06
2	Uthappa	94	Blue	Red	Cuttack	23.10.08
1	Raina	97	Ind A	Ind B	Mohali	12.10.05
2	Raina	92	Blue	Red	Ahmedabad	25.10.07
1	Sehwag	94	Ind	Ind A	Chennai	15.02.01
2	Sehwag	90	Blue	Red	Chennai	03.10.06

WV Raman with his 96 for Ind B vs Ind at Mohali on 01.10.96 remains the only captain to register a ninety in the tournament. NV Ojha with his 96 for India Green vs India Red at Cuttack on 24.10.08 remains the only wicket keeper batsman to register a ninety in the tournament.

As many as 162 fifties have been registered in the tournament. India and India Red batsmen have registered 65 fifties, India A and India Blue batsmen have registered 60 fifties and India B and India Green batsmen have registered 38 fifties.

The tournament has witnessed as many as 30 fifties by captains. S Ganguly’s 142 remain the highest individual score by a captain {for Ind vs Ind B at Chennai on 13.02.01}. R Dravid has registered most fifties as captain. He has registered eight fifties which are tabulated below

No	Captain	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	R Dravid	115	Ind A	Ind B	Mumbai	09.02.05
2	R Dravid	107	Ind B	Ind	Bangalore	11.09.03
3	R Dravid	88	Ind A	Ind	Chennai	15.02.01
4	R Dravid	82	Ind A	Ind B	Chennai	14.02.01
5	R Dravid	72	Ind A	Ind	Mumbai	10.02.05
6	R Dravid	62	Ind	Ind A	Ahmedabad	10.02.00
7	R Dravid	62	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
8	R Dravid	53	Ind	Ind B	Ahmedabad	11.02.00

The tournament has witnessed eleven fifties by wicket keeper batsmen which are tabulated below

No	Batsmen	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Karthik	116*	Blue	Red	Ahmedbad	28.10.07
2	Dhoni	102*	Ind	Ind B	Mumbai	08.02.05
3	Ojha	96	Green	Red	Cuttack	24.10.08
4	Karthik	85	Red	Green	Chennai	03.10.06
5	Dhoni	79	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
6	Patel	69	Green	Red	Chennai	03.10.06
7	Karthik	65	Blue	Green	Ahmedbad	27.10.08
8	Prasad	59	Ind B	Ind	Mumbai	10.10.97
9	Patel	53	Ind B	Ind	Mohali	11.10.05
10	Patel	53	Blue	Green	Ahmedbad	27.10.08
11	Dighe	50	Ind B	Ind	Hyderabad	29.12.95

Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel are the two wicket keeper batsmen to register fifties on three occasions and share the record for most fifties by a wicket keeper batsman in the tournament. Their feats are tabulated below

No	Batsmen	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Karthik	116*	Blue	Red	Ahmedbad	28.10.07
2	Karthik	85	Red	Green	Chennai	03.10.06
3	Karthik	65	Blue	Green	Ahmedbad	27.10.08
1	Patel	69	Green	Red	Chennai	03.10.06
2	Patel	53	Ind B	Ind	Mohali	11.10.05
3	Patel	53	Blue	Green	Ahmedbad	27.10.08

Ahmedabad edition {1999-00} and Chennai edition {2000-01} have witnessed most fifties – 18 fifties – by batsmen in the tournament

2004-05 {Mumbai} and 2005-06 {Mohali} editions are played in the same calendar year 2005. Mumbai edition was played during the period 07.02.05 and 10.02.05 while the Mohali edition was played during the period 10.10.05 and 13.10.05

The tournament has witnessed as many as fifty fifties by opening batsmen. SR Tendulkar has registered most fifties as an opening batsman. His ten fifties are listed below

No	Batsman	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Tendulkar	139	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
2	Tendulkar	113	Ind	Ind B	Mohali	01.10.96
3	Tendulkar	104*	Ind	Ind B	Mohali	29.09.96
4	Tendulkar	88	Ind A	Ind B	Bangalore	14.09.03
5	Tendulkar	84	Ind	Ind B	Calcutta	19.03.95
6	Tendulkar	77	Ind B	Ind	Chennai	13.02.01
7	Tendulkar	68	Ind	Ind	Calcutta	18.03.95
8	Tendulkar	61	Blue	Red	Chennai	01.10.06
9	Tendulkar	54	Ind	Ind A	Calcutta	21.03.95
10	Tendulkar	52	Ind A	Ind	Hyderabad	28.12.95

R Dravid has scored most fifties in the tournament. His twelve fifties are tabulated below.

No	Batsman	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Dravid	50	Ind A	Ind	Calcutta	18.03.95
2	Dravid	78*	Ind A	Ind B	Hyderabad	30.12.95
3	Dravid	56	Ind A	Ind	Hyderabad	31.12.95
4	Dravid	69	Ind	Ind B	Mohali	01.10.96
5	Dravid	62	Ind	Ind A	Ahmedabad	10.02.00
6	Dravid	53	Ind	Ind B	Ahmedabad	11.02.00
7	Dravid	82	Ind A	Ind B	Chennai	14.02.01
8	Dravid	88	Ind A	Ind	Chennai	15.02.01
9	Dravid	107	Ind B	Ind	Bangalore	11.09.03
10	Dravid	115	Ind A	Ind B	Mumbai	09.02.05
11	Dravid	72	Ind A	Ind	Mumbai	10.02.05
12	Dravid	62	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06

Both the openers have registered hundreds in the tournament on two occasions which are listed below

No	Batsmen	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Das	114	Ind	Ind A	Ahmedabad	13.02.00
1	Laxman	105	Ind	Ind A	Ahmedabad	13.02.00
2	Dhawan	126	Ind	Ind B	Mumbai	08.02.05
2	Dhoni	102*	Ind	Ind B	Mumbai	08.02.05

Four fifties in an innings has been witnessed in the tournament on two occasions and on both the occasions it was the India Blue batsmen.

No	Batsmen	Runs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Tendulkar	139	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
2	IK Pathan	54	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
3	Dravid	62	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
4	Dhoni	79	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
1	Sehwag	75	Blue	Green	Ahmedabad	27.10.07
2	A Yadav	65	Blue	Green	Ahmedabad	27.10.07
3	Raina	64	Blue	Green	Ahmedabad	27.10.07
4	Karthik	65	Blue	Green	Ahmedabad	27.10.07

As many as 18 occasions of bowlers capturing four or more wickets have been witnessed in the tournament. Venkatapathy Raju’s 6 for 39 for India A vs India at Hyderabad on 28.12.95 remains the best bowling figures in the tournament. Venktapathy Raju is the only bowler in the tournament to capture six wickets.

Dinesh Mongia, Laxmipathy Balaji and Praveen Kumar are the three bowlers who have captured four or more wickets on two occasions in the tournament. The performances of these three bowlers are listed below

No	Bowler	W	R	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Mongia	4	31	Ind B	Ind A	Bangalore	13.09.03
2	Mongia	4	48	Ind A	Ind	Mumbai	07.02.05
1	Balaji	4	50	Ind	Ind A	Bangalore	10.09.03
2	Balaji	4	66	Ind	Ind B	Mumbai	08.02.05
1	PKumar	4	42	Blue	Red	Ahmedabad	25.10.07
2	PKumar	5	45	Blue	Green	Ahmedabad	26.10.07

BK Venkatesh Prasad and Zaheer Khan are the two bowlers who have gone wicket less conceding seventy plus runs in the tournament

No	Bowlers	W	R	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	BKV Prasad	0	78	Ind A	Ind	Chennai	15.02.01
2	Z Khan	0	70	Ind	Ind A	Bangalore	10.09.03

There are nine occasions of a bowler conceding seventy plus runs in the tournament. SC Ganguly and Munaf Patel share the record for conceding most runs -81 runs – in the tournament.

No	Bowlers	W	R	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Ganguly	2	81	Ind	Ind B	Chennai	13.02.01
2	M Patel	1	81	Green	Red	Ahmedabad	26.10.07
3	BKVPrasad	0	78	Ind A	Ind	Chennai	15.02.01
4	P Kumar	1	77	Green	Blue	Chennai	02.10.06
5	Balaji	2	76	Ind	Ind B	Bangalore	11.09.03
6	Balaji	2	76	Ind A	Ind	Mohali	10.10.05
7	Nehra	2	75	Ind	Ind B	Chennai	13.02.01
8	Kumble	2	73	Ind A	Ind B	Bangalore	13.09.03
9	Z Khan	0	70	Ind	Ind A	Bangalore	10.09.03

Laxmipathy Balaji remains the only bowler in the tournament to conceded seventy plus runs on two occasions.

No	Bowlers	W	R	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	Balaji	2	76	Ind	Ind B	Bangalore	11.09.03
2	Balaji	2	76	Ind A	Ind	Mohali	10.10.05

The tournament has witnessed three occasions of team totals of 350 plus runs which are furnished in the following table. India’s 392 for 6 against India B at Chenai on 13.02.01 remains the highest team total registered by a team in the tournament. It is interesting to note that all the three team totals of 350 plus runs have been registered at Chennai.

No	Score	Overs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	392-06	50.0	Ind	Ind B	Chennai	13.02.01
2	381-06	50.0	Blue	Green	Chennai	02.10.06
3	362-10	46.4	Ind B	Ind	Chennai	13.02.01

On 31 occasions the teams have been all out in the tournament. The lowest completed innings total in the tournament is 110 – registered by India B against India A at Hyderabad on 30.12.95.

There are three occasions when both the teams have been all out in the tournament. The three occasions are listed below

No	Score	Overs	Team	Opp	Venue	Date
1	279	50.0	Ind	Ind A	Ahmedabad	10.02.00
1	227	47.3	Ind A	Ind	Ahmedabad	10.02.00
2	280	50.0	Red	Blue	Chennai	01.10.06
2	259	47.3	Blue	Red	Chennai	01.10.06
3	218	44.2	Blue	Green	Cuttack	25.10.08
3	199	44.0	Red	Blue	Cuttack	25.10.08

The narrowest margin of victory by runs margin in the tournament was achieved by India A against India at Ahmedabad on 15.10.98. India A had won this game by one run. The narrowest margin of victory by wickets margin in the tournament was achieved by India A against India at Mohali on 10.10.05. India A had won this game by one wicket.

The largest margin of victory by runs margin in the tournament was achieved by India Blue against India Green at Chennai on 02.10.06. India Blue had won this game by 266 runs. The largest margin of victory by wickets margin in the tournament – Victory without losing a wicket – was achieved by India against India B at Mohali on 29.10.96. India had won this game by ten wickets.

As many as 37 three figure partnerships have been posted by batsmen of various teams in the tournament. The fourth wicket partnership of 206 runs between Yuvraj Singh and Y Venugopala Rao for India vs India B at Mohali on 11.10.05 remains the highest partnership registered in the tournament. It is in this game Yuvraj Singh {99*} and Y Venugopala Rao {98} registered nineties which remains the only occasion of two batsmen registering nineties in the tournament.

The break up of 37 partnerships wicketwise read thus – First wicket {08}, Second wicket {05}, Third wicket {09}, Fourth wicket {08}, Fifth wicket {05}, Sixth wicket {01} and Seventh wicket {01}.

The break up of 37 partnerships teamwise read thus – India and India Blue batsmen {14}, India A and India Red batsmen {11} and India B and India Green {12}.

The highest partnership for each team read thus :

India and India Blue batsmen – 209 runs unfinished partnership for the fourth wicket between Yuvraj Singh and Y Venuopala Rao against India B and India Green at Mohali on 11.10.05

Ind A and India Red batsmen – 187 runs partnership for the third wicket between VVS Laxman and SK Raina against India B and India Greeen at Mohali on 12.10.05 :

India B and India Green batsmen – 187 runs partnership for the first wicket between SS Dhawan and MS Dhoni against India A and India Red at Mumbai on 09.02.05

Dinesh Mogia’s 121 and four for 31 for India B against India A at Bangalore on 13.09.03 remains the only all round performance of a hundred coupled with four wickets in the entire tournament.