Birthday of Vinoo Mankad

Vinoo Mankad About this sound pronunciation (12 April 1917 – 21 August 1978), full name Mulvantrai Himmatlal Mankad, was an Indian cricketer who is best known for his world record setting opening partnership of 413 runs, with Pankaj Roy, in 1956, a record that stood for 52 years.

An opening batsman and slow left arm orthodox bowler, he played in 44 Tests for India, and made 2109 runs at an average of 31.47 including five Test centuries with a top score of 231. He also took 162 wickets at the average of 32.32, including eight five-wicket hauls. He is one of three cricketers to have batted in every position, from the first to the last, during his Test career.

His son Ashok Mankad also played Test Cricket for India. Rahul Mankad, another son, played first-class cricket.

Mankad’s best performance was against England at Lord’s in 1952. In the first innings he top-scored with 72. During England’s first innings, he bowled 73 overs and took 5 wickets for 196 runs. In India’s second innings in that Test match, he top-scored again with 184 runs out of India’s total of 378. Though England won the game easily, Mankad’s all-round performance salvaged India’s pride in a series where they were heavily outmatched. Mankad was the first player in more than 30 years to score a 100 and take five wickets in the same Test and the first Indian to achieve this feat. As such, he is one of only three non-England ‘away’ players whose names appear on both batting and bowling honours boards at Lords. (The other two are Keith Miller and Sir Gary Sobers).

Also memorable was his role earlier in the same year against England in Madras. He took 8/52 in England’s first innings and 4/53 in the second helping India beat England for the very first time in a Test match.

In 1956 he hit 231 against New Zealand at Chennai and together with Pankaj Roy established the world record opening partnership of 413 runs which stood for 52 years. His score was a Test record for India at the time and would remain so until it was broken in 1983 by Sunil Gavaskar.

The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1973.

(Ref : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinoo_Mankad & CricketCountry.com)

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