Bengaluru, Sep 24: Rest of India trounced Rajasthan by an innings and 79 runs to win the 50th edition of the Irani Cup. After Rajasthan resumed their second innings at the start of Day 4 from 43 for the loss of one wicket, three run-outs and Harmeet Singh’s four for 45 helped ROI beat the Ranji winners an hour into the final session of play.
The end had been inevitable for Rajasthan ever since they had surrendered a 354-run first innings lead to Rest of India. But with Vineet Saxena and Hrishikesh Kanitkar putting on a defiant 66-run stand for the second wicket, there was hope that Rajasthan would put up a good fight. However, both batsmen were run-out even as Rajasthan tried to avoid an early defeat.
While Saxena (18) found himself short of his crease an hour into the morning session, Kanitkar (73) shared a 95-run stand with Robin Bist before he was run-out in the fourth over after lunch. First innings centurion Bist also fought hard with a 105-ball 67, but was bowled by Pragyan Ojha shortly after Kanitkar’s wicket as Rajasthan struggled at 180 for the loss of four wickets.
Rajasthan lost their fifth wicket to a run-out as well when Dishant Yagnik (11) was unable to make his ground while attempting a third run. From 206 for five, left-arm spinner, Harmeet Singh, took four wickets to bowl out the Ranji Trophy champs for 275. Harmeet finished with figures of 14.2-1-45-4.
Brief scores:
At end of Day 4: Rajasthan 1st innings 253/10 in 86.3 overs (Robin Bist 117*, Umesh Yadav 5/55) and Rajasthan 2nd innings 275/10 in 90.2 overs (Hrishikesh Kanitkar 73, Harmeer Singh 4/45) lost to Rest of India 1st innings 607/7 decl. in 165.0 overs (Murali Vijay 266, Madhur Khatri 3/125) by an innings and 79 runs
At end of Day 3: Rajasthan 1st innings 253/10 in 86.3 overs (Robin Bist 117*, Umesh Yadav 5/55) and Rajasthan 2nd innings 43/1 in 12.0 overs (Hrishikesh Kanitkar 21*, Ishant Sharma 1/17); Rest of India 1st innings 607/7 decl. in 165.0 overs (Murali Vijay 266, Madhur Khatri 3/125)
At end of Day 2: Rajasthan 1st innings 253/10 in 86.3 overs (Robin Bist 117*, Dishant Yagnik 40, Umesh Yadav 5/55); Rest of India 1st innings 328/2 in 91.0 overs (Murali Vijay 151*, Ajinkya Rahane 81, Aniket Choudhary 1/57)
At end of Day 1: Rajasthan 1st innings 253/10 in 86.3 overs (Robin Bist 117*, Dishant Yagnik 40, Umesh Yadav 5/55); Rest of India 1st innings 2/0 in 1.0 over (Ajinkya Rahane 2*, Murali Vijay 0*)
