Jaydev Unadkat started the new season on a strong note © Shailesh Bhatnagar
Jaydev Unadkat broke several records on the way to match-winning returns of 7 for 56, dragging Saurashtra out of a 50-50 situation in their semi-final against Gujarat at home in Rajkot to a 92-run win and a place in the final against Bengal.
In an absorbing contest that went down to the final session on the fifth day, Unadkat took four wickets in 3.2 overs to stamp out Gujarat’s stirring counter-attack. Gujarat went from 221 for 5 to 234 all out – after fighting back from 63 for 5 – as Unadkat ended a 158-run sixth-wicket stand between Parthiv Patel and Chirag Gandhi with the former’s wicket before taking a stunning return catch next ball to send back Axar Patel and turn the game decisively Saurashtra’s way. He ended with ten wickets in the match, having grabbed 3 for 86 in the first innings.
This was Saurashtra’s fourth Ranji Trophy final in the last eight seasons. They will face Bengal, who are making their first final appearance since 2006-07, but 14th overall.
Unadkat moved to 65 wickets in the season, the most by a pacer in a Ranji Trophy season, going past Dodda Ganesh’s tally of 62 in 1998-99. He also went past Bishan Singh Bedi’s tally of 64 wickets to be second on the all-time list. Ashutosh Aman, who played in the Plate Group for Bihar last season, has the record with 68 wickets. Unadkat’s tally is now the most by a bowler from the Elite Group, and he will have the opportunity to overtake Aman’s tally in the final.
More to follow…
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo