Ranji Trophy 2024: Vidarbha beat Madhya Pradesh to book finale berth

Vidarbha. (Photo Source: X(Twitter/BCCI)

Vidarbha produced a terrific comeback to book their spot in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 final, defeating Madhya Pradesh by 62 runs in a tightly-fought semi-final at Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground in Nagpur. Led by skipper Akshay Wadkar, Vidarbha emerged triumphingna ant in a closely contested battle.

Despite a shaky start, Vidarbha managed to put up a decent 170 runs in first innings, courtesy of a valuable contribution from Karun Nair. Madhya Pradesh, in response, put up a commendable fight, led by a resilient century from Himanshu Mantri, but were bundled out for 252 as Vidarbha bowlers rose to the occasion. Yash Thakur and Umesh Yadav shared 6 wickets between them to bundle out the opposition for 258.

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Vidarbha to face Mumbai in the finals of Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season

The second innings witnessed a spirited performance from Vidarbha’s batting lineup, with standout performances from Aman Mokhade, Yash Rathod, and skipper Akshay Wadkar. Rathod was awarded the Player of the Match award for his brilliant knock of 141 runs. Supported by vital contributions from the lower order, propelled Vidarbha to a commanding total of 402 runs, setting a challenging target for Madhya Pradesh.

Chasing 321 runs for victory, Madhya Pradesh fought gallantly, led by Yash Dubey’s gritty innings. However, Vidarbha’s bowling unit, led by Aditya Sarwate and Yash Thakur, maintained a tight grip on the game, eventually bowling out Madhya Pradesh for 258 runs, securing a memorable win for their team.

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With this victory, Vidarbha has booked their spot in the finals of the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season, where they will face the formidable Mumbai team. Mumbai, a powerhouse in domestic cricket, emerged victorious in the semi-finals against Tamil Nadu and has a rich history of success in the Ranji Trophy. Vidharbha clinched the title in the 2018-19 season, having also emerged victorious in the preceding season of 2017-18.