Ranji Trophy 2023: Saurashtra has won their second Ranji Trophy title by thrashing Bengal by nine wickets in the final match on 19th Feb i.e. Sunday. The match was dominated by Saurashtra from the beginning, and Bengal suffered a loss on Day 4. Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat, who skipped the 2nd Test against Australia to play in the domestic tournament, ended on a high note with a brilliant 6-wicket haul.
Saurashtra showed utter dominance throughout test
The final was hosted by Bengal, as they had secured more points than their fellow finalist in the group stage. The last time these two teams met in a Ranji final was in the 2019-2020 edition, where Saurashtra won their maiden title, and Bengal finished as runners-up.
Bengal, on the other hand, are yet to win their first Ranji Trophy title in 32 years. Led by Jaydev Unadkat, Saurashtra reduced the home side to a paltry 174 after winning the toss on Thursday before posting a daunting 404 on the board. Fifties from opener Harvik Desai (50) and Saurashtra’s strong middle-order trio comprising Sheldon Jackson (59), Arpit Vasavada (81), and Chirag Jani (60) helped the visitors gain a 230-run first-innings lead.
Although Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary led a response with his half-century on Saturday, a flurry of wickets in Day 4’s morning session undid his efforts. A mix-up between Tiwary and Shahbaz Ahmed resulted in the latter’s dismissal and the end of a 48-run partnership. Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat then secured his 22nd First-Class five-wicket haul (6/85) before Bengal set a meagre 12-run target.
Saurashtra clinches victory with all-round effort
Saurashtra has frequently missed the services of seniors Unadkat, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ravindra Jadeja due to national commitments. However, the team has relied on collective effort with bat and ball to overcome tricky results in the league stage.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER
