Jharkhand Secures Ranji Trophy Quarterfinal Berth with Commanding Victory
In a high-stakes encounter at the Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand delivered a clinical performance to defeat Odisha by four wickets on Sunday. This crucial win propelled them to the top of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A standings, ensuring their qualification for the quarterfinals ahead of Andhra.
Thrilling Chase Seals the Deal
Chasing a target of 246 runs for victory, Jharkhand showcased remarkable resilience and determination. The team, led by captain Virat Singh, achieved the target in 71.3 overs, finishing at 249 for 6. Opener Sharandeep Singh laid a solid foundation with a well-crafted 64, while middle-order batsman Robin Minz contributed a crucial 63. All-rounder Anukul Roy added valuable runs with his 45, steering the team towards success.
Robin Minz was deservedly named the Player of the Match for his consistent batting display. He followed up his first-innings score of 52 with another half-century in the second essay, proving instrumental in Jharkhand's triumph.
Odisha's Collapse Paves the Way
Earlier in the day, Odisha resumed their second innings at 202 for 8 but could only add 24 more runs before being bowled out for 226 in 82 overs. The Jharkhand spinners, Anukul Roy and Aditya Singh, were effective in the morning session, claiming one wicket each in just 5.1 overs.
With ample time and overs at their disposal, the Jharkhand batters capitalized on the opportunity, making amends for conceding the first-innings lead to Odisha. Their commanding performance not only secured the win but also guaranteed a quarterfinal spot from the group.
Vidarbha's Heartbreak Despite Victory
In a parallel development, defending champions Vidarbha faced a heartbreaking exit from the tournament despite securing an outright win over Uttar Pradesh in Nagpur. Resuming at 91 for 4 while chasing 201, Vidarbha displayed strength on the final day to reach the target in 58.2 overs, losing six wickets.
However, Vidarbha's victory was not enough to secure a quarterfinal berth. They finished with 31 points, tying with Jharkhand and Andhra, but were eliminated due to having fewer bonus-point wins. Jharkhand led with 3 bonus-point wins, followed by Andhra with 2, while Vidarbha managed only 1.
Group Standings and Relegation
Andhra secured the second position in Elite Group A after settling for a draw in their final match against Nagaland in Sovima. Meanwhile, Nagaland's struggles continued as they finished with the least points (2) among the 32 teams in the Elite division. Consequently, they will be relegated to the Plate Group in the next season.
The match concluded with the following brief scores:
- Odisha: 282 & 226 in 82 overs (Anukul Roy 5/72, Aditya Singh 4/77)
- Jharkhand: 263 & 249 for 6 in 71.3 overs (Sharandeep Singh 64, Robin Minz 63, Anukul Roy 45; Sayed Tufayl Ahmad 4/101, Govinda Poddar 2/93)
Jharkhand earned 6 points from this victory, while Odisha walked away with 0 points. This result underscores the intense competition and dramatic twists in the Ranji Trophy, highlighting Jharkhand's strategic prowess and team effort in securing their quarterfinal place.
