Vidarbha conquer Rest of India

Defending champions become only the third team ever to clinch two Irani Cup titles in a row

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

With their victory on Saturday on the basis of first-innings lead, Vidarbha became only the third team —after Mumbai and Karnataka — to clinch two Irani titles in a row.

Set a tricky target of 280, Vidarbha were well and truly on course on the final day placed comfortably at 269 for five, needing a mere 11 runs more for an outright victory.

However, the teams decided to shake hands and settle for a draw with the Ranji champions declared winners on their firstinnings lead.

In a touching gesture, Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal announced that the entire prize money will be donated to the families of the CRPF personnel killed 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 the martyrs who lost their lives in Pulwama. This is a small gesture from our team and VCA,” Fazal said.

SATISH STANDS TALL

The victory was testimony to Vidarbha’s teamwork as they defeated a Rest of India side which had the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer and Mayank Agarwal despite the absence of two key players — Vidarbha’s topscorer Wasim Jaffer and pacer Umesh Yadav.

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 contributions.

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 for one, 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 for two.

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.

Following the dismissal of Sanjay , Satish joined hands with Taide and they added another 30 runs for the third wicket before Chahar trapped Taide leg-before.

Taide’s dismissal did not deter Satish, who played the his role of an anchor to perfection. During his 168-ball stay at the crease, Satishhammered nine fours and a six. He also found support from Mohit Kale, who scored 37 (90b, 5x4) in a crucial innings.

After Satish was caught off the part-time off-spin from Hanuma Vihari, the curtains came down on the hard-fought game here.

The first-innings centurion Akshay Karnewar was declared Man-of-the-match as his century had helped Vidarbha to get a crucial 95-run lead.