Dominant Vidarbha retain title

Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha reasserted their supremacy in domestic arena by beating a star-studded Rest of India to retain the Irani Cup, making it back-to-back seasons of double delight.

Vidarbha became only the third team, after Mumbai and Karnataka, to clinch two Irani Cup titles in a row. Set a tricky target of 280, Vidarbha were well and truly on course on the final day on Saturday at 269/5, needing only 11 runs for an outright victory. However, the teams decided to shake hands and settle for a draw with the Ranji champions declared winners on firstinnings lead. In a touching gesture, Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal announced the entire prize money will be donated to the families of the CRPF personnel who died in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama on Thursday. “We as a team have decided to donate the prize money to the family of those who lost their lives in Pulwama. This is a small gesture from our team and VCA,” Fazal said.

SATISH TOP SCORER FOR VIDARBHA

The victory was testimony to Vidarbha’s teamwork as they defeated a Rest of India side which had Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer and Mayank Agarwal despite the absence of two key players – Vidarbha’s top-scorer Wasim Jaffer and pacer Umesh Yadav didn’t play.

It was another senior Ganesh Satish (87 off 168 balls) and India U-19 player Atharva Taide (72 off 185 balls) who ensured the Cup will remain in the Vidarbha Cricket Association’s trophy cabinet.

Opener R Sanjay (42) and Mohit Kale (37) also chipped in with handy knocks.

Fazal would be pleased that his boys almost pulled off an outright win chasing 280 on a fifth day track. Resuming on their overnight 37/1, Ramaswamy and No 3 Taide added 116 runs for the second wicket.

Rajasthan leg-spinner Rahul Chahar trapped Sanjay in front to make it 116/2. While Sanjay stuck four boundaries and a six, Taide was more aggressive, hitting eight fours and a six as the duo kept Rest bowlers at bay.

After Sanjay fell, Satish joined hands with Taide and they added 30 runs for the third wicket before Chahar trapped Taide leg before.

Taide’s dismissal didn’t deter Satish, who played the anchor to perfection. During his 168-ball stay, he hammered nine fours and a six. He got support from Mohit Kale, who hit 37 (90b, 5x4) in a crucial innings on the final day.