OTD| Saurashtra registered their first Ranji trophy win in 2020

Saurashtra has been the most consistent team in the Ranji Trophy in the last few years. It all started with their first title which they won in 2020, on this day. The first-time winners dominated the two-time champions Bengal in the final to create history. 

First Innings

The final promised to be a thriller of a contest as both teams were coming on the back of a glorious campaign. Jaydev Unadkat-led side elected to bat first after winning the toss which was an expected decision. The opening pair of Harvik Desai and Avi Barot eased out all the pressure of the final with an impactful 82-run opening stand. 

However, after this strong start, Saurashtra lost track and at one point it was reeling for 5-206. But the experienced duo of Arpit Vasavada and Cheteshwar Pujara rescued the team and guided it towards a formidable total of 425 at the end of their innings. Saurashtra continued this momentum when they came out to bowl. Bengal’s top order was hit with two initial blows as openers Sudip Gharami and Abhimanyu Easwaran were sent back to the pavilion very early. 

But Manoj Tiwary and Sudip Chatterjee stitched a vital partnership to steer the innings. However, after this partnership, there was again a mini-collapse in the middle-order which reduced Bengal to 6-263. An important intervention from Anustup Majumdar and Arnab Nandi pushed Bengal close to the first-innings total of Saurashtra. However, it was not enough to put them into the lead. Saurashtra restricted Bengal to 381 runs in the first innings to take a decisive lead. 

Second Innings

By the time the second innings started, there was not much time left in the contest. Saurashtra’s lead almost confirmed their maiden title. Bengal tried to fight back but it was too little too late. 

The second innings ended with Saurashtra batting for 4-105 and being in an unassailable lead to clinch the final on the basis of the first innings lead. It was a remarkable campaign led by Jaydev Unadkat which gave Ranji Trophy a new champion.