From being a cricketing outpost just a couple of seasons ago to two-time Ranji Trophy champion, Vidarbha’s transformation as a domestic powerhouse has been fast and fascinating.
Going into the final day of the Ranji Trophy summit clash, Vidarbha was overwhelming favourite to retain the title but Saurashtra, through this season, has shown resilience to overcome adversities.
In the final as well, it made several comebacks to keep itself in the hunt for a maiden Ranji title and Vidarbha couldn’t afford to take the foot off the pedal. And it didn’t as Aditya Sarvate spun a web around the visiting batsmen to script Vidarbha’s 78-run win here at the VCA’s Jamtha Stadium on Thursday minutes before the scheduled lunch.
Dream outing
The all-rounder had a dream outing, returning match figures of 11 for 157 (five for 98 & six for 59) and playing a crucial knock of 49 in Vidarbha’s second innings.
Resuming on 58 for five in pursuit of the target of 206, Saurashtra’s second innings folded for 127 minutes when Dharmendrasinh Jadeja holed out to Sarvate at mid-wicket off Akshay Wakhare (three for 37).
Sarvate, whose three wickets on the fourth evening had broken the back of Saurashtra’s top-order, gave Vidarbha the breakthrough, separating the overnight pair of Kamlesh Makvana and Vishvaraj Jadeja (52). Makvana misjudged the line of the ball, left it alone and saw it crash into his off-stump.
Wakhare followed up with Prerak Mankad’s wicket in the next over to leave Saurashtra reeling at 91 for seven. Needing 115 more runs with three wickets in hand, Saurashtra’s slender hopes rested on Vishvaraj.
But again Sarvate ended his resistance with a full delivery that the right-hander tried to sweep. The length wasn’t quite right to execute the shot and he thus missed the ball which hit him right in front. Then it was a mere formality and Vidarbha completed it without fuss.
The scores:
Vidarbha — 1st innings: 312.
Saurashtra — 1st innings: 307.
Vidarbha — 2nd innings: 200.
Saurashtra — 2nd innings: Harvik Desai c & b Sarvate 8, Snell Patel c Jaffer b Sarvate 12, Vishvarajsinh Jadeja lbw b Sarvate 52, Cheteshwar Pujara lbw b Sarvate 0, Arpit Vasavada c Wadkar b Umesh 5, Sheldon Jackson b Wakhare 7, Kamlesh Makvana b Sarvate 14, Prerak Mankad lbw b Wakhare 2, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja c Sarvate b Wakhare 17, Jaydev Unadkat lbw b Sarvate 7, Chetan Sakariya (not out) 2; Extras (w-1): 1; Total (in 58.4 overs): 127.
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-22, 3-22, 4-35, 5-55, 6-88, 7-91, 8-103, 9-121.
Vidarbha bowling: Sarvate 24-6-59-6, Umesh 10-1-31-1, Wakhare 22.4-6-37-3, Karnewar 2-2-0-0.
