Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Unadkat lifts the trophy, and invites Vasavada to do that too. Vasavada was stand-in captain when Unadkat was away. The Ranji Trophy sits in front of the entire team, before they lift it all and get into loud celebrations. That's it from us for the domestic season of 2022-23, which saw one full round of Ranji matches for the first time since 2019-20. Thanks for your company, as we head off for now! Take care.

Jaydev Unadkat speaks now: "Championships aren't won by one game. It's a long season. We put in a lot of work... won the Vijay Hazare. The guys have a lot of stability... everyone stood up when the team needed. It's not just about a couple of guys. You try to be smart in preparations... We worked on areas where we had to. I love playing for Saurashtra; it's so close to my heart. I feel an adrenaline rush."

Arpit Vasavada is the Player of the Series for his 907 runs: "I feel lucky that I performed when the team needed me. My strength is my defence, so I focus on that. We just had to walk on Unadkat's footsteps [when he was away]. I am happy I perform when my team needs me."

Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat is the Player of the Match for match figures of 9 for 129

Manoj Tiwary collects the runners-up trophy: "Great season for us. I want to congratulate Jaydev Unadkat and his team. I want to thank BCCI for releasing him for this match... They set the precedent. It all started on day one when we lost the toss. There was moisture on the wicket. After that, we were never in the game. Sorry to all Bengal cricket lovers. It was heartening to see the way bowlers bowled."

Time for the presentations

Avinav P: "Elsewhere, Unadkat (who was released from the Test side) rejoined his Ranji side as Captain, took the title as well as 6 wickets in the final innings!"

Bengal continue to fumble despite making it so far: they lost the final in 2019-20, the semi-final in 2021-22 and now the final again. Saurashtra, on the other hand, have won two Ranji titles in three seasons now. Bengal are a side in transition - Dinda and Saha are gone already - with Tiwary being 37 and Majumdar being 38.

11.12am It was a repeat of the 2019-20 final, even in terms of the result. Unadkat continues to show the way for Saurashtra, even as Abishek Porel breaks down for Bengal. Ishan Porel is seen consoling him, while the rest of the Bengal side look almost shocked. Saurashtra get into a huddle, and yell their feelings out. There are cheers, clapping and celebrations in there.

2.4
4
Mukesh Kumar to Desai, FOUR, pulled to deep square leg! Saurashtra win the Ranji Trophy. The players sitting in the dugout rush on to the park. Mukesh banged it in short, and Desai swivelled to pull from middle and off
2.3
1
Mukesh Kumar to VM Jadeja, 1 run, fuller ball on off. Flicked to fine leg after getting across

Ranjit B: "Who could be more happy than Ravi Jadeja? Saurashtra winning here and him taking 7 wickets"

2.2
4
Mukesh Kumar to VM Jadeja, FOUR, four more off the outside edge. Again the ball slides past second slip, as he pushes forward to this good length ball angling into off
2.1
0
Mukesh Kumar to VM Jadeja, no run, full ball on off, and tucked to square leg

END OF OVER:
2 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | SAU: 5/1

  • Harvik Desai0 (7b)
  • Vishvaraj Jadeja5 (4b)
  • Akash Deep1-0-5-1
  • Mukesh Kumar1-1-0-0
1.6
0
Akash Deep to Desai, no run, full and on fifth stump. Left alone, as it angles in late
1.5
1
Akash Deep to VM Jadeja, 1 run, good length on off, and clipped between mid-on and midwicket
1.4
0
Akash Deep to VM Jadeja, no run, defended off the outside half of the bat, as he blocks this full ball coming into off
1.3
0
Akash Deep to VM Jadeja, no run, full and straighter. Flicked to square leg
1.2
4
Akash Deep to VM Jadeja, FOUR, the ball dribbles past second slip. Deep bowled fuller than the previous ball, angling it in again, and pitching on off. Jadeja drove, but got an outside edge too, even as he played wit soft hands

Vish Jadeja at No. 3

1.1
W
Akash Deep to Jay Gohil, OUT, edged to second slip! Gohil falls first ball. Deep angled one in on a good length on off, but the ball shaped away after pitching. Gohil was punching at it half-heartedly, and got the outside edge

Jay Gohil c Gharami b Akash Deep 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Deep from the other end

END OF OVER:
1 | (maiden) | SAU: 0/0

  • Harvik Desai0 (6b)
  • Jay Gohil0 (0b)
  • Mukesh Kumar1-1-0-0
0.6
0
Mukesh Kumar to Desai, no run, good length around sixth stump. Dabbed to point
0.5
0
Mukesh Kumar to Desai, no run, pushes back at this full delivery just outside off
0.4
0
Mukesh Kumar to Desai, no run, bowls wide of off, and goes full again. It shapes away, as Desai lets it go
0.3
0
Mukesh Kumar to Desai, no run, full on fourth stump. Tapped down
0.2
0
Mukesh Kumar to Desai, no run, fuller, and shaping into off. Pushed to point
0.1
0
Mukesh Kumar to Desai, no run, bowls fullish and outside leg, as it angles down further. Beaten on his flick

10.59am Welcome to the small chase. Just 12 to win.

Ranji Trophy

Elite, Group A
TeamMWLDPT
BENG741232
UKHND730429
HP721421
BRODA721421
ODSA712414
UP712413
HRYNA712413
NAGA70522
Elite, Group B
TeamMWLDPT
AP742126
MAHA730426
SAU732226
MUM732224
TN721421
DELHI722317
ASSAM713311
HYD70611
Elite, Group C
TeamMWLDPT
KNTKA740335
JHK732223
KER731321
RAJ722320
CGR734019
GOA722318
SVCS724113
PONDI71519
Elite, Group D
TeamMWLDPT
MP751133
PNJB730427
RLYS732222
VIDAR732220
GUJ724114
TPURA702511
J + K71428
CHD70257
Plate Group
TeamMWLDPT
MEGHA541025
SIKM531120
MNPR531120
BIHAR511314
MIZO51318
ARP50500