Victorious Vidarbha donate prize money for martyrs’ children

NAGPUR:Ranji champions Vidarbha reasserted their supremacy in domestic arena, beating a star-studded Rest of India on the basis of their first innings lead to retain the Irani Cup, making it back-to-back seasons of double delight.

Ganesh Satish scored 87 as Vidarbha nearly pulled off an outright win over Rest of India in Nagpur on Saturday. PTI

Nagpur, February 16

Ranji champions Vidarbha reasserted their supremacy in domestic arena, beating a star-studded Rest of India on the basis of their first innings lead to retain the Irani Cup, making it back-to-back seasons of double delight.

Vidarbha have now become the third team after Mumbai and Karnataka to clinch two Irani Cup titles in a row. Vidarbha captain Faiz Fazal announced that the entire prize money will be donated to the families of the CRPF personnel martyred in the Pulwama blast on Thursday.

Set a tricky target of 280, Vidarbha were on course at 269/5, needing only 11 runs for an outright victory. However the two teams decided to shake hands and settle for a draw. Ganesh Satish (87) and Atharva Taide (72) ensured that the Cup will remain in the Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Trophy cabinet. Opener Sanjay Ramaswamy (42) and Mohit Kale (37) chipped in with handy knocks, while wicketkeeper Akshay Wadkar remained unbeaten on 10. Skipper Fazal would certainly be pleased with the fact that his boys nearly pulled off an outright win chasing a near 300-score on a fifth-day track.

Resuming their innings on 37/1, Ramaswamy and Taide added 116 runs for the second wicket. Young Rajasthan leg-spinner Rahul Chahar trapped Ramaswamy in front of the wicket with the Vidarbha score reading 116/2. While Ramaswamy stuck four boundaries and a six, Taide was a tad more aggressive, striking eight fours and a six as the duo kept the Rest of India bowlers at bay.

After Ramaswamy fell, Satish joined hands with Taide and the two managed to add 30 runs for the third wicket before Chahar again struck, trapping Taide plumb in front. Satish played the sheet-anchor’s role to perfection in his 168-ball stay at the crease. He got able support from Mohit Kale, who hit four fours in his brief but crucial innings. After Satish, the curtains came down on the hard-fought game in which Vidarbha emerged triumphant. First-innings centurion Akshay Karnewar was named the Man of the Match as his century enabled Vidarbha to get a crucial 95-run lead. — PTI

Brief scores: Rest of India: 330 & 374/3 decl; Vidarbha: 425 & 269/5 (Satish 87, Taide 72, Ramaswamy 42)