NEW DELHI: In a determined fightback, Vidarbha, led by
Karun Nair
(74) and skipper
Akshay Wadkar
(56 not out), extended Mumbai’s wait for a 42nd
Ranji Trophy
title.
Vidarbha
reached 248/5 in pursuit of a challenging target of 538 on the fourth day of the final in Mumbai.
Facing an improbable task after being outplayed since the first day, Vidarbha showcased a resilient batting performance to frustrate their hosts.
Nair, who joined Vidarbha this season, played a crucial role, facing 220 balls and batting for 287 minutes to keep Mumbai at bay.
However, Nair eventually fell late in the day to the brilliance of 19-year-old
Musheer Khan
, who had earlier set up the game with a stellar 136 in the second innings.
Vidarbha’s skipper, Wadkar, remained unbeaten on 56, with
Harsh Dubey
(11 not out) at the crease. The team needed another 290 runs with five wickets in hand.
Throughout the day, Mumbai managed to secure a couple of wickets in each session, with the key dismissal of Nair in the final session. The Mumbai bowlers, including the spin trio, tried various strategies on a placid pitch at the Wankhede Stadium.
Musheer Khan, the leader of the spin pack for Mumbai, proved nearly unplayable with figures of 17-3-24-2.
Despite Vidarbha’s disciplined approach to avoid chasing the massive target, they earned a moral victory for not capitulating under the pressure of the final. Musheer’s dismissal of Nair, with an outside edge sharply caught by
Hardik Tamore
, was a standout moment.
Vidarbha showed resilience with Akshay Wadkar and Karun Nair adding 90 runs for the fifth wicket, consuming 173 balls. The match poised for an intriguing final day, with Vidarbha requiring another 290 runs to secure an unlikely victory.
Brief scores: Mumbai 224 & 418 lead Vidarbha 105 & 248/5 in 92 overs (Atharva Taide 32, Aman Mokhade 32, Karun Nair 74, Akshay Wadkar 56*; Tanush Kotian 2/56, Musheer Khan 2/38) by 290 runs.
(With PTI inputs)