Vidarbha thrashed the 42-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai to storm into final. Akshay Wadkar's side defeated Ajinkya Rahane's brigade by 80 runs in a thrilling semi-final clash at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium on Friday, February 21.
Vidarbha rock Mumbai for Ranji Trophy final
Vidarbha will now take on Kerala, who downed Gujarat in another semifinal encounter.
This victory was particularly sweet for Mumbai, considering the heartbreak Vidarbha suffered in the previous season's final. In that encounter, Mumbai had comprehensively defeated the Nagpur-based team to secure their 42nd title. However, the fortunes reversed approximately twelve months later, when the two teams met again in the semi-final. This time, the rematch delivered a dramatically different outcome, with Vidarbha exacting revenge and registering an impressive 80-run victory over Mumbai.
Vidarbha's decision to bat first proved fruitful on Day 1, with Dhruv Shorey and Danish Malewar crafting resilient innings that pushed their team past the 350-run mark. However, Mumbai's Shivam Dube delivered a crucial spell on the morning of Day 2, claiming a brilliant 5-wicket haul and restricting Vidarbha to just under 400.
Despite Dube's efforts, Mumbai's batting lineup faltered in their response. International stars like Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shivam Dube themselves struggled, contributing to Mumbai's eventual dismissal for a total of 270. While Akash Anand provided a lone bright spot with an impressive century (106 runs), the rest of the batting order crumbled. Parth Rekhade spearheaded Vidarbha's bowling attack, taking 4 wickets, while Yash Thakur and Harsh Dubey each chipped in with two wickets, giving Vidarbha a substantial 213-run lead.
Vidarbha's third innings began with some nervous moments, but Yash Rathod stepped up with a magnificent innings that will be etched in Ranji Trophy history. His 151-run knock proved to be the crucial difference, enabling Vidarbha to reach a total of 292 in their second innings. Mumbai's Shams Mulani once again showcased his skills, taking another five-plus wickets (6/85 in 44 overs). Apart from Tanush Kotian, no other Mumbai bowler could effectively support Mulani.
Chasing a target of 406, Mumbai, with a batting lineup boasting prominent names like Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur, and Tanush Kotian, seemed capable of achieving the target, particularly in Asian conditions. However, Vidarbha had other ideas. They rode on Harsh Dubey's brilliant fifer to bowl out Mumbai for 325, securing a memorable victory and moving just one step away from claiming another Ranji Trophy title.