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MP Script History With Maiden Ranji Title

  • Navneet Mundhra


    • BENGALURU:     Madhya Pradesh on Sunday scripted history by winning India’s premier domestic tournament Ranji Trophy for the first time. They beat 41-time champions Mumbai.

    After conceding the first-innings lead of 162 runs, Mumbai started Day 5 from the overnight score of 113-2 and lost heaps of wickets in a bid to score runs quickly and erase the deficit. Only Suved Parkar with 51 and Sarfaraz Khan with a breezy 45 made handy contributions but other batsmen fell cheaply.

    Left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya, who has been the fulcrum of Madhya Pradesh’s bowling this season, was once again the pick of the bowlers as he grabbed four wickets and helped his team bundle Mumbai out for 269 in their second essay.

    Earlier, Madhya Pradesh had scored 536 runs in their first innings in response to Mumbai’s 374.

    Chasing 108, Madhya Pradesh were in a spot of bother at one stage as Shams Mulani snapped up three wickets and seamer Dhaval Kulkarni snared one batsman to reduce them to 66-3.

    The flamboyant Rajat Patidar, who had smashed a ton in the first innings, stepped up and cracked an unbeaten 30 to guide his team to victory. Fittingly, he hit the winning runs as MP lifted the coveted trophy for the first time.

    Meanwhile, Twitter erupted with joy as politicians, officials and former players congratulated the team on their maiden triumph.

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