Ranji Trophy 2017-18 : One of the most dramatic and emotionally-charged Ranji Trophy matches in recent memory hurtled to a pulsating finish in Kolkata as Vidarbha charged into their maiden tournament final of Ranji Trophy 2017-18 with a five-run victory over favourites and eight-time champions Karnataka.
Passionate, exhilarating and unpredictable until the very end, this match had all the ingredients that go into the making of a classic. Rajneesh Gurbani picked the ultimate stage to turn in the performance of his life – a career-best seven-for – as Karnataka folded for 192 in their second innings, ending what turned out to be the match of the season.
In Ranji Trophy 2017-18 Karnataka dominated almost every moment of the 75 minutes that the final day lasted. Shreyas Gopal (24*), Vinay Kumar (36) and Abhimanyu Mithun (33) mounted a sensational fightback as Karnataka’s experience in big-match situations prominently came through. Almost every run was shaved off the target in a clinical manner as Vidarbha watched their dream slip away. All until one critical moment of madness dashed Karnataka’s hopes and subjected them to heartbreak.
Mithun, who had dented Vidarbha the worst of all Karnataka batsmen, paid the ultimate price for his lofty ambition. With his team nine runs away, and with Vidarbha having nearly lost nearly all hope, Mithun gave them a spark in his pursuit of a glorious finish. Gurbani pitched it full outside Mithun’s off stump and the batsmen threw his hands at it as hard as he could, and sliced a catch to Akshay Sarwate at deep point.
It brought out S Aravind, Karnataka’s weakest batsman and Vidarbha’s strongest hope. Aravind managed to see off four deliveries. And then Karnataka suffered their second brain-fade of the morning. Off Umesh Yadav’s last delivery, Aravind flicked the bowler to fine leg. Shreyas Gopal, without a moment’s hesitation, crossed over for the single.
Six runs required and six balls to bowl at No.11 Aravind. It was Vidarbha’s last chance, and Faiz Fazal turned to his young hero, Gurbani. One ball later, it was all over. Gurbani shaped the first ball away from Aravind. The batsman reached out, and the resultant edge was snaffled at gully. Gurbani elatedly sank to his knees, Vidarbha’s players roared out from their dressing room, and Shreyas and Aravind were disconsolate figures as they wearily and reluctantly dragged themselves off.
