Vasavada’s unbeaten half-century, Saurashtra tighten grip on Bengal in Ranji final
Middle-order batsman Arpit Vasavada had dashed Bengal’s hopes of winning the Ranji Trophy three years ago and he again performed the same role with an unbeaten 81 on the second day of the final of this season’s final here on Friday to help Saurashtra win their title. Inching closer to another title. The Saurashtra vice-captain scored a match-winning first-innings lead in the 2020 final in Rajkot with a match-winning 106 and once again made it difficult for Bengal.
Vasavada shared two crucial partnerships with Sheldon Jackson (59 runs) and Chirag Jani (57 not out). An unbeaten 113-run partnership between Vasavada and Jani helped Saurashtra build up a 143-run first innings lead. Bengal’s team was reduced to 174 runs in the first innings and in response, Saurashtra’s team had scored 317 runs by losing five wickets at stumps on the second day. Vasavada, who scored a match-winning double century against Karnataka in the semi-finals, continued his form, hitting 11 fours during his unbeaten 155-ball innings.
Jani also crossed the boundary 10 times as the duo dominated the final session. Bengal’s pace attack disappointed and it took 46 minutes for the team to get the first wicket in the morning session. Till then opener Harvid Desai (50 runs) completed his 12th half-century playing with night watchman Chetan Sakaria (08 runs). Mukesh Kumar dismissed Desai and eight runs later Ishan Porel sent Sakariya to the pavilion.
Left-handed batsman Vasavada then began to tighten the screws as Miller stitched a 95-run partnership with Jackson that saw them overtake Bengal’s score of 174. Veteran Jackson surrendered his wicket after completing his 35th half-century. In an attempt to pull Porel’s ball, he reached the pavilion by giving a catch at fine leg.
But then Jani ably supported Vasavada to increase Bengal’s woes and almost sealed his team’s second Ranji title with an unbeaten century partnership. Jani took full advantage of the lifeline he got on 26 and scored his 13th first-class half-century in 72 balls. The tea break was extended by 20 minutes due to bad light. There was heavy fog at Eden Gardens on the second day, which affected the hosts’ pace attack, who could not control it during the first hour of play.
