Match concludes in a draw: Ranji Trophy champs relinquish dramatic tie in four-day encounter
In the heart of Bengaluru, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium witnessed a thrilling spectacle as the Ranji Trophy Elite Group champions, Vidarbha, squared off against the Ranji Trophy Plate League champions, Goa, in a KSCA invitational tournament.
The match began with Vidarbha, led by Atharva Taide, choosing to bowl first after winning the toss. Goa's opening batsmen, Ishaan Gadekar and Suyash Prabhudesai, started off promisingly, but their innings were short-lived as they were dismissed for 17 and 21 respectively, leaving Goa at 52-2.
The most significant partnership of the match came from Darshan Mishal (39) and Abhinav Tejrana (74), who top-scored for Goa. Their 90-run effort helped Goa recover and reach a respectable total of 211 before being bowled out. Praful Hinge was the pick of the Vidarbha bowlers, taking 4 wickets for 32 runs, while Nachiket Bhute and Ganesh Bhosle picked up 3-39 each.
Vidarbha, in response, had a strong start with a 141-run opening stand between Taide (62) and Aman Mokhade (72). However, after the opening stand was broken, Vidarbha suffered a significant collapse, going from 141-0 to 211-7. Mokhade fell just short of his century for 95.
Off-spinner Mohit Redkar, who finished the match with 5 wickets for 89 runs, helped Goa seal a breathtaking tie by taking the remaining two wickets in the 67th over.
While the Vidarbha-Goa fixture doesn't have first-class status, it's worth noting that the last tied first-class game in India occurred in the 1986 Test between India and Australia in Chennai. The only other tied first-class game on Indian soil was the 1945-46 Ranji Trophy semi-final between Southern Punjab and Baroda.
In more recent times, the most recent tied first-class match occurred in the 2024 County Championship Division Two fixture between Gloucestershire and Glamorgan. The exact number of drawn matches in the history of first-class cricket is not provided in the available search results, but 63 matches have been recorded as a tie.
This thrilling encounter between Vidarbha and Goa serves as a testament to the exciting brand of cricket being played in the domestic circuit. With both teams showing their mettle, it's safe to say that the future of Indian cricket is in good hands.
