Irani Cup: Wriddhiman Saha, Cheteshwar Pujara guide ‘Rest of India’ to win against Gujarat

Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha's career-best first-class knock of 203 was the stand-out performance as Rest of India lifted the Irani Cup after effortlessly chasing down a 379-run target set by Gujarat with more than two sessions to spare here today.  

Saha's 203 and skipper Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten 116 helped Rest of India overhaul the target with six wickets still in hand. 

Wicketkeeper Saha and Pujara, unbeaten on 123 and 83 respectively last evening in a team score of 266 for four, carried on in imperious fashion on the fifth and final morning to steer the team home an hour before lunch in 19.1 overs at the Brabourne Stadium here.  

This was 15th time in the last 19 editions that Rest of India had won the the tournament, which is in its 55th year. 

Rest of India finished with 379 for four in 103.1 overs to cruise home in style. 

The duo's fifth wicket unbroken partnership was worth 316 runs in 78.5 overs. It was the second-best in the tournament's history after the highest of 327 for the fourth 

wicket between Ravi Shastri and Praveen Amre for Mumbai against the Rest at Bengaluru in 1990-91.  

Both the batsmen were largely untroubled by the newly crowned Ranji Trophy champions' bowling attack even though the target set by Gujarat, who had taken a handy 132-run first innings lead, was stiff. 

The winning hit by Pujara, a step-out lofted shot to long-on for his 16th hit to the fence off Hardik Patel, summarised the domination he had on the Gujarat bowling along with Saha. The Rajkot-born batsman stayed at the wicket for just over 400 minutes and faced 238 balls to remain unbeaten. 

Saha's unconquered effort, after he reached his first-ever double century with a four off Karan Patel, lasted 346 minutes and 272 balls. It was also the highest score by a wicketkeeper batsman in the tournament's history.  

The Bengal and India stumper struck 6 sixes and 26 fours in this important knock that has come before the selectors sit down to choose the Test team for the one-off game against Bangladesh in Hyderabad next month.  

Saha had got injured after playing in the first two Tests in the five-game series against England and his place in the team had been taken by Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel. Parthiv had led his state to the Ranji crown for the first time by defeating Mumbai in the final. 

Rest had more or less ensured victory last evening itself as they needed 113 runs with Pujara and Saha, who counter-attacked the bowling with gusto when his team was in deep trouble at 63 for four, firmly entrenched. 

The duo sailed along merrily on the fourth morning with Pujara duly compiling his 6th hundred of the first class season, including three in Tests, and 37th overall before Saha went past his previous career-best score of 178 made in the Ranji Trophy against Assam seven years ago in Kolkata with a couple to square leg.  

Saha later reached his double ton just in time as Pujara completed the task soon after with another boundary hit.  

The limited Gujarat bowling resources were ruthlessly exposed by the two batsmen in the second innings after they had bundled out Rest for a measly 226 in the first.  

Left arm spinner Hardik Patel was the most successful bowler with figures of 2 for 104 while the other two wickets were shared by medium pacer Mohit Thadani and off spinner Karan Patel.  

Chintan Gaja, who bowled very well and exploited the wicket in the first essay to take 4 for 60, disappointed in the second to remain wicket-less after conceding 66 runs. 

Pujara later praised Saha's knock and said when the two joined forces it was the wicket keeper batsman who told him he was going after the bowlers to which he concurred and the match-winning triple century partnership ensued.  

"Wridhi's knock was crucial. When we lost 4 wickets I thought we needed a big partnership. The way he played, the way he started approaching the innings was fantastic. After a couple of overs he told me 'I am going to take on the bowlers'. I said, yes," said Pujara. 

"We needed someone to take on the bowlers and unsettle them, (and) that's what he started doing. At the other end I was there to hold up the innings, playing the ball on merit. Things did work out for us. We had the proper plan when we lost four wickets," he added. 

Pujara pointed out chasing 370 after losing four wickets cheaply was never going to be easy and at one stage he was worried Rest would lose the match.  

"To chase 370 was not easy, (especially) when you lose four wickets early on and the bowlers are on top. At one stage I felt we probably will lose this game. When Wridhi came in, the way he was hitting the ball, I also got lot of confidence. 

"After a couple of overs he felt he had to take on the bowlers and even I felt the same. We wanted to unsettle their line and length, they don't have pace - only medium pace - and both of us have faced fast bowlers at 140 km an hour. To counter them we had to come up with a plan. Wridhi came up with that and I supported him,” he said.

"We started running well, the moment we had the partnership going we saw their bowlers were slightly dropping their shoulders and not up there. Even Parthiv Patel, at times, was getting frustrated. Once the ball was old, after 50 overs, it was easier to bat. Wridhi kept going and it was easier for me to bat and support him

"This is one of the best knocks of his. He has scored hundreds at international level. It was one of the best innings I have seen in domestic cricket," he added.  

He also praised the track. 

"It was a very good wicket. There was something for fast bowlers right through and day three onwards there was something for spinners (too). It was a very sporting wicket," he said. 

Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel also praised the match-wining, career-best double century of rival stumper Wridhiman Saha, while also mentioning the poor standards of umpiring in domestic cricket. 

"He (Saha) took his chances really well. That was obviously the right approach because if they had tried to defend, they would have struggled. It was the right approach and it clicked well for them," said Parthiv of Saha's brilliant, counter-attacking knock of 203. 

On umpiring, of which he got the rough end of the stick in the Gujarat second innings, Parthiv said, "I obviously cannot talk anything about my decision, but overall, it is very unfortunate to see that there are a few guys who are making so many mistakes and you see them in big games. 

"It's unfortunate to see guys who keep on making mistakes and you see them going on (officiating) in big games like a semi-final, final and Irani Cup. 

"We do speak to the president (of BCCI) or whenever there's a captain's conclave. Or even if we feel like, we can address it straight to others in the BCCI," he added. 

Brief scores: Gujarat 358 and 246 lost to Rest of India 226 and 379 for 4 in 103.1 overs (C Pujara not out 116, W Saha not out 203; Hardik Patel 2 for 104) by 6 wickets.

(With PTI inputs)