Check out the top performers in Ranji Trophy 2022-23 as Saurashtra clinch their 2nd title in three years

Saurashtra won their second Ranji Trophy title in three years on Sunday, defeating hosts Bengal by 9 wickets in the final at Eden Gardens (February 19). A spectacular collapse of 6 for 47 in Bengal’s second innings, precipitated by Jaydev Unadkat’s four rapid strikes on the fourth morning, prevented them from mounting a serious challenge, and Saurashtra needed only 2.4 overs to reach the meagre 12-run mark. Bengal resumed their innings on 169/4, behind by 61 runs with six wickets in hand and their skipper Manoj Tiwary on 57. A run out in the sixth over of the morning, however, opened the floodgates. Unadkat soon found his opposing number, and Abishek Porel’s departure in the following spelt doom.

The Saurashtra captain snatched two more in quick succession, leaving Bengal at 205-9 and facing an innings defeat averted only by a last-wicket stand of 36 and some powerful smashes from Ishan Porel (two fours and two sixes) in his 21-ball 22. Akash Deep gave Bengal something to rejoice about when he struck in his first over, leaving Saurashtra one down and without a score, but the end result was only a matter of time. Unadkat was named Player of the Match for his 9 for 129 match figures, while Arpit Vasavada was named Player of the Tournament for his season total of 907 runs in 10 games, second only to Mayank Agarwal (990 in 9 matches).

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Sheldon Jackson dashed to the stumps to pick one for posterity, only to be told it was just a matter of knocking off a few runs. But it didn’t take long, and while they lost Jay Gohil, his opening partner Hardik Desai and Vishwaraj Jadeja brought up victory with a boundary shortly after. Saurashtra’s entire team dashed onto the field. They snuggled close, exchanging bear hugs. Mount Kolkata had been conquered. Three years ago, they won their first title by defeating Bengal on a slow burn of a Rajkot deck. They had now breached Bengal’s fortress on Eden’s green top. Winning couldn’t have been more satisfying.

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