Vidarbha makes history, clinches maiden Ranji title

Indore: The less-fancied Vidarbha secured its place in the history by winning the maiden Ranji Trophy title here on Monday.

The Faiz Fazal-led side defeated the favourites Delhi comprehensively by nine wickets in the final played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium here. The victory came at the stroke of stumps on the 4th day of the match which was totally dominated by the winners.

Rajneesh Gurbani, the medium-pacer of Vidarbha, was adjudged 'player of the match' with match-haul of 8 for 151 including a hat-trick in the first-inning. It was Gurbani in the first inning who dismantled the young but formidable batting of Delhi in the first inning while it was the turn of other pacer Akshay Wakhare who took four Delhi wickets in the second inning.

After conceding a 252-run first inning lead, Delhi was bowled out for 280 in their second innings, setting a target of merely 29 runs for Vidarbha. Vidarbha lost only one wicket and took only five overs to chase down the target which gave them their first Ranji Trophy title.

Dhruv Shorey's 145 in typical conditions, Wasim Jaffer's determined knock, Wadkar's pivotal hundred and Neral's whirlwind half-century completed the story on a positive note for Vidarbha.

Akshay Wadkar's maiden Ranji century was vital in Vidarbha's first innings but it was sheer tenacity of old warhorse Wasim Jaffer whose knock of 78 in the first innings sealed the fate of Delhi. The way seven-times Ranji champions surrendered to the guile of Vidarbha bowlers will continue to pinch the Delhi players for a long long time.

Brief Scores

Delhi 1st innings 295 ( Dhruv Shorey 145 Rajneesh Gurbani 6 for 59)

Vidarbha 1st innings 547 ( Akshay Vinod wadkar 133, Wasim Jaffer 78 Aditya Sarvate 79 Neral 74 , Navdeep Saini 5 for 135)

Delhi 2nd innings 280 ( Nitish Rana 64 Dhruv Shorey 62, Akshay Wakharey 4 for 95 , Aditya Sarvate 3 for 30

Vidarbha 2nd innings 32 for 1

Vidarbha wins by nine wickets

Player of the match - Rajneesh Gurbani