India, Dec. 25 -- Please protect us."

If this was the plaintive cry from the collective bowling fraternity across the country on Wednesday evening, it wouldn't have been without justification.

The concept of an equal contest between bat and ball went flying out the window on a manic day one of the all-India inter-state 50-over tournament for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In Ahmedabad and Rajkot, in Bengaluru and Jaipur and Ranchi, where the group stage matches are being held, runs came thick and fast. Sometimes too fast.

Across the 19 matches, there were 22 three-figure knocks; 217 sixes were smashed, the highest List A tally in the history of the game was breached. Bihar's 574 for six - let that sink in, 574 in 50 overs - comfortably shade...