In a thrilling encounter at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground in Nagpur on March 6, Vidarbha secured a commanding 62-run victory over Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy semifinal. As the dust settles on this exciting clash, the focus now shifts to the impending final where Vidarbha is slated to face Mumbai, eyeing their 42nd title in their 48th Ranji Trophy final appearance.
Vidarbha’s Bowling Brilliance
Aditya Thakare and Yash Thakur emerged as the heroes, each claiming two crucial wickets to dismantle Madhya Pradesh’s innings on the fourth day. Despite a valiant effort from Yash Dubey (94) and his fruitful partnership with Harsh Gawli (67), the collapse became inevitable. Venkatesh Iyer and Saransh Jain attempted a recovery, but Vidarbha’s bowlers, with the exception of Umesh Yadav, showcased their prowess by picking up vital wickets.
Missed Opportunities for Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh’s regret lingered over a missed opportunity to capitalize on an 82-run first-innings lead, courtesy of Himanshu Mantri’s gritty century (126 off 265 balls). Avesh Khan’s stellar performance with the ball (4/49) set the tone for Madhya Pradesh’s dominance. However, Vidarbha, unfazed by the deficit, displayed composure in their second innings, with Yash Rathod’s outstanding 141 off 200 balls and a pivotal 158-run partnership with Akshay Wadkar (77 off 139) steering them into a competitive position.
The Road Ahead – Ranji Trophy Final
With the final showdown against Mumbai on the horizon, Vidarbha stands ready to capitalize on their recent success. The narrative unfolds further as the players prepare for the pinnacle of domestic cricket, vying for the coveted Ranji Trophy.
Brief scores: Vidarbha 170 & 402 (Yash Rathod 141; Anubhav Agarwal 5-92) beat Madhya Pradesh 252 & 258 (Yash Dubey 94, Harsh Gawli 67; Akshay Wakhare 3-38, Yash Thakur 3-60) by 62 runs.
