When giantkillers Rajasthan were reduced to 11 for three in their second innings of the Ranji Trophy final against Baroda on Friday, the penultimate day of their first final appearance in 37 years, the celebrations that had begun after they took the innings lead came to a halt
When giantkillers Rajasthan were reduced to 11 for three in their second innings of the Ranji Trophy final against Baroda on Friday, the penultimate day of their first final appearance in 37 years, the celebrations that had begun after they took the innings lead came to a halt.
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| Rajasthan skipper Kanitkar lifts the Ranji Trophy. PIC/RAJASTHAN PATRIKAu00a0JAIPURu00a0 |
But a 165-run stand for the fifth wicket between Rashmi Parida (89) and Ashok Menaria (101) and Saturday's last-wicket stand of 59 between Pankaj Singh (24) and Rohit Jhalani (43 not out) ensured Rajasthan bagged their maiden Ranji title in the 77th edition of the tournament.u00a0
"Rajasthan had a reputation for these collapses in the past. When we were 11 for 3, the match was pretty open," an emotional skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar said.
"When we lost wickets, we thought we could get only a lead of 150, but we decided that even if that happened, we would defend it.
At no point did we think that it has gone out of our hands. We were very tense, but we knew that we could do it and that luck also favours those who try their best."
Resuming their second innings at 201 for four, Rajasthan totalled 341 before reducing the hosts to 28 for four in 14 overs.u00a0 Deepak Chahar claimed three wickets in his seven overs for 15 runs. Rajasthan were victors by virtue of their first innings lead.
