Ranji Trophy 2010-11: Super League

[Chandan]

It was a tough game but our grit prevailed : Akash Chopra January 11, 2011 Was it Rajasthan's deep desire to win the semifinal that turned the tables or was it Tamil Nadu's lack of caution that cost them the game? While the analysis is on, here's how the story unfolded on the pitch. Tamil Nadu won an all important toss against us, Rajasthan, and were obviously gung-ho about their prospects of storming into the final. After all, it was overcast, the track wore a black look (a sign of moisture underneath) and they had come prepared for exactly this. They had five quick bowlers in the squad, out of which four eventually played in the final XI. TN thought that all they needed to do was to pitch the ball and the conditions would take care of the rest. Unfortunately for them, that's where they faltered. Once they didn't get the all expected initial breakthrough, they were left with two choices -one, to put their heart and soul into their bowling or two, obviously the easier one, to go on the defensive with field placements. Fortunately for us, they chose the latter and had fielders manning the boundaries as a cover for loose deliveries. We, being the smaller team, knew that the only way to win against Tamil Nadu was to bat them out of the game. And that needed application right from number 1 to number XI. We did just that and it worked for us. But batting can only set up a game; it's the bowlers who win it for the team. When our turn came to bowl, our hunger to win the game also came to the fore. The track was a good one to bat on. Tamil Nadu had a good line-up and we had to split 160 overs between four bowlers, for we didn't play the extra bowler. And what made it even more challenging was the fact that three out of our four bowlers were seamers, which meant pushing the limits, both physically and mentally. Our bowlers bowled their hearts out. The game hung in the balance for a long time, thanks to Badri's stupendous knock. But as the end came closer, the real character of individuals also came to the fore. At one end Badri remained unflustered and was prepared to go all the way, the others around him got too impatient and went for broke. www.cricketaakash.com --------------------------------------------- Let us see how you do in finals Akash!

[Chandan]

Rajasthan vs Baroda From plate to cup? With a bunch of talented youngsters, a world-class academy and a lot of promise, Rajasthan cricket certainly seemed to be aiming high in the lead-up to the 2008-09 Ranji season. But with no senior player to rally around, the youngsters lost their way and were relegated to Plate League. By the end of the following season, Rajasthan cricket had hit rock bottom, quite literally, with the Rohit Jhalani-led team finishing bottom-placed in their group, below the likes of Goa and Jharkhand. Desperate for resurgence, the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) decided to tweak their promote-the-youth policy, adding buffer mainly to their batting by bringing in two long-standing domestic heavyweights, Akash Chopra and Hrishikesh Kanitkar — who was named captain. Along with bolstering Rajasthan’s dilapidated fortunes, the duo also had the added responsibility of fostering the many inexperienced members of their team. And Chopra and Kanitkar have delivered on both counts in the most professional manner. If reaching the quarterfinals and being promoted to the Super League for next season marked Rajasthan’s redemption; over the next five days at the Moti Baug ground against a similarly youth-powered outfit in Baroda, Kanitkar & Co have a chance to create history themselves. Baroda’s route to the final may have been less dramatic, but the Pinal Shah-led outfit too were buoyed at crucial junctures by their senior pros, Yusuf Pathan and Munaf Patel — especially during the league stages. Munaf picked up wickets at a miserly rate while Yusuf blasted runs and doubled up as wrecker-in-chief with the ball on a couple of occasions. But though Baroda did prevail in contentious circumstances against mighty Karnataka in the semifinal on a dubious wicket, which saw the match finish within five sessions; overcoming spirited Rajasthan will be an entirely different matter. With the game shifted to Moti Baug, the visitors’ new-ball bowlers Pankaj Singh and Deepak Chahar will relish the bounce and pace and are sure to create worries for the home team’s relatively young batting line-up. In contrast, Baroda’s pacers, Murtuja Vohara and Sankalp Vohra, will have the arduous task of contending against two near-immovable hurdles in Chopra and Kanitkar, who have amassed close to 1500 runs between them this season. And Baroda coach Mukesh Narula is well aware of that fact. “If there will be moisture in the morning it would certainly help the bowlers and that is why winning the toss would be crucial. I would rather say only a brave team would like to bat first on Moti Baug track,” he says. -------------------------------- So Pinal Shah won the toss and fielded but the Rajasthan openers Chopra and Vineet Saxena have stonewalled them successfully and have stopped them from making any inroads before lunch where they've scored just 48 runs in 28.3 overs.

[saneindian]

Rajasthan 73/1 in 38 overs!! The run machine Chopra is out but Rajasthan have enough batting strength to bat for 2-3 days and post a huge total.

[Clarke]

198/3 in 90 overs :yawn2: Hope they're bundled out by tea.

[coffee_rules]

Their game plan seems to bat for 2 days or major part of the match and get the opposition out having to score faster to get a better RR. It won't work this time as the final is for 5 days. For 4-day matches it might work.

[Dravid]

come on baroda goo ummm umm, pinal shah yeaaaaa

[saneindian]

Very poor on part of Baroda to claim the run out of Saxena. Win by hook or crook (even though going by rule book the run out appeal was correct), but shows complete lack of sportsmanship on their part.

[Chandan]

FINAL, DAY ONE Baroda vs Rajasthan Rajasthan makes slow progress : Honours even on Day One A brown and dry pitch at the Moti Bagh Palace ground negated speed, consistent bounce and seam movement and exacted a hard grind from the Rajasthan batsmen for six hours and 10 minutes as they posted a modest 198 for three in the Ranji Trophy final here against Baroda. The parched texture of the pitch would have barely passed muster from those looking for bright cricket on the first day. The pitch, given the nod by the BCCI curator, was a far cry from the fair amount of grass cover it usually presents to the seam bowlers on the first morning. Considering the occasion in which the teams are in pursuit of the prestigious title, there was considerable caution and circumspection as they went about their business in the first 90 overs of the match. However, it can be said that Rajasthan made optimum use of the conditions. Good stand Watchful but polished knocks from HrishikeshKanitkar (61, 147b, 7x4, 1x6) and Robin Bisht (batting 56, 156b, 3x4, 1x6) and their 117-run stand for the third wicket off 186 balls kept the Baroda attack at bay after lunch. Nestled amidst greenery with a bunch of heritage structures adding to the opulence, the Moti Baug ground in Baroda is deservedly considered among the most picturesque venues in India. However, the serenity provided by the quaint setting and the gentle breeze that sweeps across the ground towards evening is equally capable of luring even the most intense of characters into committing a slack error. And, probably it was this tranquility that led to Hrishikesh Kanitkar dropping his guard and attempting a careless cut against off-spinner Aditya Waghmode, with just four overs left for the day’s play. The Rajasthan skipper had been unruffled during his 204- minute stay at the crease, resisting the Baroda bowlers on Day One of the Ranji Trophy final. But even though Kanitkar dragged himself off the field, rueing the lapse in concentration after being caught by Connor Williams for 61 off 147 balls, the left-hander had by then led his team to a position of strength on Tuesday. His dismissal — and that of the other dangerman Aakash Chopra earlier in the day — will certainly put the hosts in high spirits, having wrested back some of the initiative, as Rajasthan finished on 198/3 with Robin Bist unbeaten on 56. From the time Baroda captain Pinal Shah won the toss and, to the surprise of many, put the opposition in on a dry wicket, the tactics of Rajasthan batsmen seemed obvious. They had successfully managed to grind down almost every opposition, including defending champions Mumbai, in what has been an extremely successful season, and there was no reason for them to deviate from a tried and tested formula. Grinding down opposition Openers Chopra and Vineet Saxena began wearing down the Baroda bowlers with some resolute defence. Only 17 runs were scored off the first 15 overs, other than the six runs Baroda had conceded in overthrows in the very first — mainly through singles, though there was the occasional boundary too. Put in, Rajasthan began in customary fashion with openers Aakash Chopra and Vineet Saxena getting behind the line and offering the full face of the bat. They survived three run-out chances in under an hour and also a few deliveries from Murtuja Vahora and Sankalp Vora that skidded off at ankle height. The first 15 overs produced around 20 runs before Chopra spotted an error in length from left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt and dispatched the ball to the cover fence. A pull off debutant seamer Abhijit Karambelkar, with the wicketkeeper positioned close to the stumps, saw Chopra trying to speed up things a bit before misreading a delivery from Bhatt, sent down from around the wicket and edge of the crease. Attempting a paddle-sweep, Chopra fell leg before, deceived by the slanted delivery that held its line and hit him low on his front pad. Chopra looked set for another marathon knock before he missed a sweep shot off left-arm spinner Bharghav Bhatt and was trapped lbw for 34. Saxena then fell victim to a contentious run-out decision off the first ball after lunch, bringing Kanitkar and Bist at the crease. The Rajasthan skipper did look more positive than his team mates but mixed his aggression with dead-pan defence. And with Bist complementing him at the other end, Kanitkar looked set for his third century on the trot. The duo added 117 runs as Baroda bowlers tried their best to make inroads, in vain. but just when Rajasthan looked like going into the second day with the upper hand, Kanitkar suffered the costly lapse. With Bist looking settled and the experienced Rashmi Ranjan Parida to follow, not to forget the in-form Ashok Menaria, Rajasthan have enough batting to succeed in their mission of posting a huge total and take a first-innings lead. “It wasn’t the easiest wicket to bat on and despite my wicket late in the day, we have enough batsmen to stretch our score towards the 400-run mark. It’s a five-day game and there is a lot of time left. We have to get as big a total as possible in the first innings,” Kanitkar said. Reflecting upon his nearly 3-1/2 hour occupation in the middle, skipper Kanitkar said one had to eschew free-scoring ways on a pitch that played slow and low. The Baroda coach Mukesh Narula said this was the kind of pitch his team had expected and lavished praise on the team that fielded smartly and saved nearly 20 runs. Lucky dismissal The first ball after lunch resulted in a lucky second wicket for the home team. There was drama and debate around the fairness in Saxena's dismissal after he had put up a stout defence for two-and-a-half hours. Square umpire V. Hariharan, after seeking assistance from the third umpire, declared Saxena out, applying the point of fact ‘ball was in play' rule. Clearly Saxena was ignorant of a particular aspect of a run out rule which states that he has to seek the permission of the fielding side or the umpire before leaving his ground, even if it is to prod the pitch with his bat. Noticing this error, Bhatt, prompted by wicketkeeper Pinal Shah, effected a direct hit from near the bowler's end. From 73 for two, Kanitkar and Bisht took control of proceedings to post the first century plus stand of the final. Spirit vs letter of law: Saxena run out triggers debate As he nonchalantly stepped out of his crease to pat the wicket after inside-edging the first ball after lunch towards mid-wicket, Rajasthan opener Vineet Saxena would not have had the slightest hint of the drama that would follow. Though the fielder, Bharghav Bhatt, too initially seemed unaware of the situation, he was quickly prompted by wicketkeeper and Baroda skipper Pinal Shah to throw the stumps down at the striker’s end. While the on-field umpires referred the appeal for a run-out to the third umpire and the Baroda fielders began their celebrations; a perplexed Saxena was left standing in the centre, still unaware of what had exactly happened. As did most of those present at the venue. While the replays did show that the 30-year-old had given a signal to leg-umpire K Hariharan, he had unfortunately done so after leaving his crease and while the ball was still ‘in play’. Saxena was declared run out, but the debate about the legitimacy of his dismissal continued to linger on for hours later. Once the legality of the decision was established, the argument turned to whether the Baroda team was right to appeal in the spirit of the game. Shah believed his team had only taken advantage of the situation to get rid of an opposition batsman. “It wasn’t a planned move. I saw him walking out of the crease and I thought the ball was in play, so it was worth taking the gamble,” he said. Not surprisingly, Rajasthan skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar differed. “According to rules he was out, but I can assure you I would not have claimed it,” he insisted. Baroda defend decision to bowl first Baroda captain Pinal Shah has defended his decision to bowl on a dry, grassless Moti Bagh wicket that played low and slow on the first day of the Ranji Trophy final, saying he expected some moisture to help the seamers. Rajasthan adopted an extremely cautious approach, but were strongly placed at 198 for 3, and would have been in an even better position were it not for captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar's late dismissal. "It looked to be a batting wicket. Earlier we were going to play only two seamers. But in the morning, we felt there was some moisture around despite the grass having been removed," Pinal said. "That's why we played an extra allrounder in Abhijit Karambelkar. They have some batsmen who score big, like Aakash Chopra, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Ashok Menaria, and we thought if we could get them in the morning, it would be great for us." Mukesh Narula, the Baroda coach, told ESPNcricinfo that it was a last minute decision to bowl and explained it was a combination of the conditions and a wariness of Rajasthan's batting that dictated the choice. "The first thing I noticed this [Tuesday] morning was that there was dew around, and we felt that we could utilise it," he said. "Also, Rajasthan's batting has been in good form, and we thought there was a chance they could chase down whatever we would manage to put up." Having played three seamers, Baroda would have certainly wanted a better return from them than the 46 wicketless overs they bowled. "I think our fast bowlers could have done a much better job today," Narula said. Rajasthan were pleasantly surprised by Baroda's decision, as they themselves would have batted first. "I guess the only reason they didn't bat was because they might have been wary of our seam attack of Pankaj Singh and Deepak Chahar," Aakash Chopra, the Rajasthan opener, said. "I can't think of any other reason, as they had removed all the grass from the wicket, which was very dry." Kanitkar's wicket towards the end evened things out slightly on a dreary first day, but the Rajasthan captain was satisfied with his side's approach. "I should not have got out. But I am happy with the way we played," he said. "It was not an easy wicket to bat on as the ball was keeping low and not coming on. And once they knew we were well set, they stopped attacking, and started bowling to defensive fields." Rajasthan are eyeing a score of at least 400 now, after the steady start, and Kanitkar felt that despite losing himself and Chopra, they had the batting line-up to pile on the runs. "Ideally, I would be really happy with 550, but a minimum of 400 is needed," Kanitkar said. "Most of our batsmen have been among the runs. And we are playing the finals, so everyone should be ready to do the job." Contrary to Baroda's choice to play an extra seamer, the dry nature of the surface prompted Rajasthan to leave out steady third seamer Sumit Mathur in favour of offspinner Madhur Khatri. "Sumit has bowled his heart out throughout the season. I feel very bad that he could not play this game. But that is what the wicket was demanding," Kanitkar said. While both sides have gone in with two specialist spinners, Chopra felt the Rajasthan new-ball duo of Pankaj and Chahar could still be dangerous on this track. "Pankaj is six-foot plus, and from that height, on a wicket that is keeping low at times, it [the bounce] can become very uncertain for a batsman," he said. "And Chahar does not depend on the wicket; he generates a lot of swing in the air." Baroda are hoping they can get something out of the wicket tomorrow morning. "The first session is important," Narula said. "If we can get a few wickets, we are right back in the game as they have gone very slowly till now." Brief scores: Rajasthan 198/3 in 90 overs (Hrishikesh Kanitkar 61, Robin Bist 56 not out; Bhargav Bhatt 1/48, Aditya Waghmode 1/18) vs Baroda

[cameron_black]

very slow play. very boring. and that run out is like what brendon mcullum do everytime.

[Sir john]

poor cricket going on :yawn2:

[rkt.india]

anyone saw murtuja vahora bowling...on this pitch where ball is rarely carrying, he bowled a bouncer that went over the keepers head for 5 wides..

[kabira]

yes he has bowled some good short balls. The tall spinner Bhatt, bowled a peach to get Bist..absolute peach..bowling over the wicket, pitching way outside leg stump, beaten in flight, pitches on the rough and clips off stump

[kabira]

Baroda is screwed, wrong decision to bowl first...pitch is deteriorating very fast...

[rkt.india]

yes he has bowled some good short balls. The tall spinner Bhatt, bowled a peach to get Bist..absolute peach..bowling over the wicket, pitching way outside leg stump, beaten in flight, pitches on the rough and clips off stump

can u explain more about Murtuza what kind of a bowler is he, tall or short and what about the pace can he bowl over 130k?

[Chandan]

Menaria goes. Once again the flight of Bhatt does the trick!

[TheWall]

must be one of the most boring and least interested Ranji finals oa all time...

[kabira]

^says who??

[The Rock]

Any streams showing this live? Wanted to see Chahar's bowling...

[kabira]

Chahar is just swing bowler like praveen kumar..not that pacy..

[rkt.india]

Chahar is just swing bowler like praveen kumar..not that pacy..

and what about MUrtuza vahora?