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Hanuma Vihari-led Rest of India made short work of the 105-run target on Day 4 as the team won their 29th Irani Cup title. Before an easy run chase, it was Kuldeep Sen who brought an end to Saurashtra's fightback in the first session with a clinical first spell.
Kuldeep was menacing on Day 4 to complete his five-wicket haul. He got rid of the tailender first by pitching one up with pace. Parth Bhut could not get bat on it and got trapped in front of the stumps. Unadkat, who saved Saurashtra from an innings defeat, got out trying to slash a short ball. All he could manage was an outside edge off his bat that carried to wicketkeeper Srikar Bharat.
Unadkat scored 89 runs from 133 deliveries including 10 fours and two sixes. On Day 3, he had shared a 144-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Prerak Mankad (72) to save his side from an embarrassing loss.
Saurashtra got all out for 380 but it was their first innings collapse that haunted them. Mukesh Kumar's new-ball magic complimented by Kuldeep and speedster Umran Malik helped ROI bundle out Saurashtra for 98 in the first innings.
In reply, Unadkat tormented ROI's top-order as well. Skipper Vihari and Sarfaraz Khan saved ROI from a collapse. Sarfaraz scored 138 under pressure whereas Vihari contributed 82 runs to the score. Saurabh Kumar's half-century and value contributions from other batters helped them post 374 in the first innings despite Chetan Sakariya's fifer.
In the run chase of 105, Unadkat got rid of Priyank Panchal (2) and Yash Dhull (8) early with the new ball. Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran and Bharat prevented a batting collapse as they chased down the total in a little more than one session. Easwaran played the role of aggressor and scored 63 runs from 78 deliveries including nine boundaries. On the other hand, the wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten for 27 runs from 82 deliveries including five fours. Unadkat tried as many as seven bowlers in 31.2 overs but could not break the third wicket partnership to make life tough for ROI.
“It was a good toss to win. The bowlers delivered really well. Huge credit to the bowlers. They put the balls in the right areas, the slip catching as well. We had to carry on with the bat we did that as well. We were in a tough situation on a wicket which was helping for the bowlers, Sarfaraz batted beautifully. The partnership helped us to gain the momentum and we took the game away from them,” Vihari said in the post-match presentation.
Not Sarfaraz but Mukesh was adjudged ‘Man of the match’ for taking five wickets in the match including a vital four-fer in the first innings.
“There was some assistance early on and we tried to bowl them out as quickly as possible. I focus on my line and length. I try to learn with every game,” Mukesh who got his maiden ODI call-up said after the match.
