Vidarbha entered their third Ranji Trophy final beating Madhya Pradesh by 62 runs on the final day of the second semifinal of the 2024 season, setting up a summit clash with Mumbai.
MP, starting the day at 228/6 and 91 runs to win, could only manage to add 30 runs before getting bowled out for 258. Aditya Thakare and Yash Thakur picked up two wickets each for Vidarbha to wrap up the proceedings within the first hour of play on the final day.
Vidarbha will now face Mumbai, who beat Tamil Nadu in under three days in the first semifinal, in the final set to be played in Mumbai, starting 19th March.
After conceding a first innings lead of 82 runs, Vidarbha made a strong comeback riding on a brilliant second innings century by middle-order batter Yash Rathod (141) before Vidarbha bowlers put in a complete bowling performance in the second innings. Thakur and Akshay Wakhare picked up three wickets each while Aditya Sarwate and Anubhav Agarwal, who had picked a five-for earlier in the match, claimed two wickets apiece.
Mumbai Ease Past Tamil Nadu to Secure Record 48th Final Appearance
MP were in front after the first two days having restricted Vidarbha for 170 in the first innings. They then went on to post 252 courtesy Himanshu Mantri’s 126 but allowed Vidarbhra to get away in the second dig. Aman Mokhade (58), Akhsay Wadkar (77) supported Rathod helping the Chandu Borde-coached team to 402, thus setting MP a daunting 321-run target.
MP looked poised to run down the target till the final session on Day 4 after Yash Dubey (94) and Harsh Gawli (67) got them off to a good start, but Vidarbha bowlers chipped away at the wickets at regular intervals and eventually had MP bowled out for 252.
Vidarbha have a cent percentage record in the final having won both of their previous title clashes in consecutive years – 2017-18 and 2018-19. On the hand, Mumbai will be playing a record 48th Ranji Trophy final, having won 41 of those. Mumbai last played the final of the Ranji Trophy in 2021-22 season, losing to MP.
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