New Delhi: Reigning Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha defeated Rest of India by 93 runs at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Sunday, October 05 to win the Irani Cup title. Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey picked up a four-wicket haul to help Vidarbha bundle out Rest of India for 267 runs in their 361-run chase and wrap up a comfortable victory.
Dubey and pacer Yash Thakur were the pick of the bowlers for Vidarbha during Rest of India’s second innings as the duo combined to pick up six wickets between them. Thakur played a crucial role in Vidarbha’s triumph as he broke the defiant 104-run stand for the seventh wicket between Yash Dhull and Manav Suthar during Rest of India’s chase on Day 5 of the match.
Thakur dismissed Dhull after his valiant 92 and got the wicket of Anshul Kamboj off the next delivery to bag two in two and take the game away from Rest of India. Dubey then removed tail-enders Akash Deep and Gurnoor Brar in quick succession to help Vidarbha secure a thumping 93-run victory.
While the duo shone with the ball, opener Atharva Taide and Yash Rathod played two sublime knocks in Vidarbha’s first innings to help them post a strong total of 342 runs, which proved to be the difference in the game. Taide slammed a brilliant knock of 148 runs, while Rathod scored a vital 92. Despite having the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan and Dhull in their line-up, Rajat Patidar-led Rest of India failed to overhaul Vidarbha’s first innings score.
More to follow…