News » ICATIONSClemson will most likely remain ran

Haryana v Bombay, Faridabad, 1993-94I remember it precisely - February 12, 1994. It was the day I made my first-class debut, in the pre-quarterfinal of the Ranji Trophy. We were missing Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Sanjay Manjrekar and Salil Ankola at the time, as they had been called up for the New Zealand series.Prior to this game, every time they announced a team, I was included in the squad but not in the XI; instead, I was sent to play for the Under-19s. Although that made me unhappy, I never showed it. It was a good build-up - it kept a fire burning inside me.That year, we had won the U-19 tournament after a long gap. I had captained the side and got a hundred in each innings of the final. Just prior to my Ranji debut, we had also played the MA Chidambaram Trophy against a Rest of India U-19 team that had the likes of VVS Laxman and Hrishikesh Kanitkar. I had got a hundred in the second innings of that game, where we came close to chasing 426.I was picked to play for the India U-19s against a touring Australia U-19 side, so I had to make a decision whether I wanted to play in that match, or show up for the Ranji pre-quarterfinal. Luckily, Ravi Shastri, who was the Mumbai captain at the time, had given me a message seven days prior that I would be batting at No. 4 for Mumbai in that game. So the decision was a no-brainer - playing for Mumbai was my dream.Ravi Shastri was a towering figure, and the Mumbai dressing room could be daunting at times. As a youngster I might have felt a little nervous, but thankfully I was too preoccupied to be bothered by it. Besides, it was a breakthrough season for a lot of other guys in the Mumbai team. The team had gone through a transition and most of us - Sairaj Bahutule, Jatin Paranjpe and Paras Mhambrey, to name a few - were making our debuts in that season or had just broken into the squad in the previous season. We had all played together previously and this made things more comfortable.When Ravi handed me my Mumbai cap on that cold Faridabad morning, it was a special feeling. After putting in years of hard work, I felt like I had accomplished something.We won the toss and elected to bat. I had a routine: I would put my pads on and then wear my cap, with my gloves resting on my thighs. I also had a habit of walking around the dressing room and skipping for a bit. I watched the game but - I can say it easily 23 years later - I never liked to talk about cricket. I followed this routine that day, and was talking about other things with Paras - who was also my room-mate - while waiting to go in.Just after the drinks break, Sunil More got out and I walked out to the crease. I was nervous, but fully aware of what was happening around me. I defended the first two balls from the offspinner Pankaj Thakur, and stepped out to the third, driving it past cover for three runs. Jatin was at the other end, and he said later that he had crossed his legs - a superstition - when I was on strike. He was hoping everything went right for me on debut. It seemed to have worked, as I went on to score 260, which remains the world record for the highest first-class score on debut. You dont just go and snatch world records unless you are Brian Lara. It just so happened that everything went right that day.When I was close to my hundred on the second day, Ravi was batting with me. He pepped me up a little bit when I got to 90, when I was, understandably, a little nervous. He said, Just graft these 10 runs. Once you get them, I can guarantee the next 30 will flow like a river.I have a habit of keeping snapshots in my mind. I can usually picture the exact place and moment that something happened. I recall taking a cab - a kilometre or two into town - to find an STD booth to call my dad. I was on top of the world when I told him about my hundred. I needed somebody to keep me grounded and my dad was the perfect person. He reminded me how I had got into the Mumbai team after a long wait.Now that you are batting on hundred, dont let go of it, he said. Even when the stars come back, make sure your place is there.That kept ringing in my ears constantly and I just carried on. By tea, I was batting on 197 and a scorer reminded me about Gundappa Viswanaths record of 230 on debut. There wasnt much cricket in Faridabad at the time and people kept coming into the dressing room. So I asked Kaddu bhai (Karsan Ghavri), my senior, if he could keep them away. I didnt want to be rude, but I needed to be in my zone. I think Clive Lloyd had been at the game too. He had come to meet Ravi and seen my innings, but had left before I came in at tea.At the end of the second day, I was not out on 245. After play, I was sitting quietly in my chair and letting it all sink in. I remember Ravi coming in, putting his arm around my shoulders and saying, How are you feeling now, young man? Ravi was my hero and I was thrilled at that moment. It is another one of my precious snapshots.That night, BCCI president IS Bindra saab might have visited because his secretary was around and asked me if I knew I had made a world record. My reaction was: Really? Can I tell my parents about it?After the 260, the press was all over the shop. There were about three or four centuries scored in that innings and we had quite a tall score. Jatin and Ravi got hundreds as well. We only batted once and bowled them out twice to win by a huge margin.I used a SG Sunny Tonny bat that day. I only played four games with it and retired it after we won the Ranji Trophy that year. As a batsman, you tend to use your luckiest or most precious bats for a long time, but I said to myself, This bat has given me recognition. It now goes in the vault.As told to Arun Venugopal Max Scharping Youth Jersey . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). DOnta Foreman Texans Jersey . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. http://www.officialhoustontexanspro.com/Max-scharping-texans-jersey/ . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Andre Johnson Womens Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Cullen Gillaspia Youth Jersey .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Dabo Swinney has mastered winning close games during his tenure at Clemson. Saturdays victory over Florida State might be the sweetest of all.The third-ranked Tigers rallied to beat the No. 12 Seminoles 37-34 and won for the first time in 10 years at Doak Campbell Stadium.It is the fifth win by seven points or fewer this season for Clemson (8-0, 5-0 ACC) and gives it a 16-2 record in nine seasons under Swinney when winning by less than a touchdown.Im glad to finally walk into this room and be happy. Its been a long time coming, Swinney said. We had a couple of lulls, but when we needed to make plays we got them.The win extends Clemsons regular season winning streak to 22 games and gives it consecutive victories over Florida State (5-3, 2-3) for the first time since winning three in a row from 2005-07.The win also likely assures the Tigers of being in the top four when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released on Tuesday. Clemson is trying to make the playoff for the second straight season after losing to Alabama in last years national championship game.For the second straight year, Deshaun Watson played a large role in the win as he had 430 yards of total offense.The junior completed 27 of 43 passes for 378 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. His 34-yard pass to Jordan Leggett and 2-point conversion with 2:06 remaining gave Clemson the lead. Watson also had 52 yards rushing on 17 carries, and Leggett had 122 yards on five receptions.It was just a great play call. Weve seen it all game and called it at the right time, said Watson of the TD to Leggett. Its a special win. Its hard to win here against these guys.It is the second straight game Watson has had over 400 yards of offense against Florida State -- he had 404 last year in a 23-13 victory. He is also the first quarterback to beat Florida State in consecutive seasons since Oklahomas Landry Jones in 2010-11.Wayne Gallman led Clemsons rushing attack with 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns .Florida State was able to drive into Clemson territory with under a minute left but could only get to the Tigers 34. The Seminoles self-destructed due to penaltties and Deondre Francois (17 of 35 for 169 yards with a touchdown and interception) was sacked on the final two plays.dddddddddddd.FSU fell short despite Dalvin Cooks career-high four touchdowns. The junior had 136 of his 169 yards rushing in the second half and had two touchdown runs of 40-plus yards.Dalvin had another great game. Ive seen him play a lot of good ones. He had space and he outran angles, Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said. Theyre going to throw haymakers, were going to throw haymakers. We battled back but unfortunately we came up short.Cook, who leads Power 5 backs in rushing, has gone over 1,000 yards three straight seasons and needs 192 yards break Warrick Dunns school career record of 3,959 yards.They were giving us what we wanted all game, Cook said. We tried to establish the passing game early and the running game opened up in the second half.THE TAKEAWAYClemson: With wins over Louisville and Florida State, the Tigers have a firm grip on the Atlantic Division, but Swinney isnt claiming victory just yet. He said after the game that weve got two hands on the steering wheel, but we didnt win it.Florida State: The Seminoles were penalized 13 times for 111 yards. One of those calls was a chop block on Freddie Stevenson on what would have been a long Cook run deep into Clemson territory during the fourth quarter. Fisher was not pleased with that call or a targeting penalty that led to the ejection of Tre Marshall. I will tell you what, you hold coaches accountable, you hold players accountable, hold the damn officials accountable, Fisher said.POLL IMPLked third and will be in the top four when the first College Football Playoff rankings are released on Tuesday. Florida State will fall but it might not be far after rallying but falling short.UP NEXTClemson: The Tigers return home to face Syracuse.Florida State: The Seminoles travel to North Carolina State.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.orgFollow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy [url=