Skipper Jaydev Unadkat on Friday produced a lion-hearted spell when it mattered the most against Bengal, leading Saurashtra to their first Ranji Trophy triumph a year after stumbling at the last hurdle.
The win was achieved on the basis of Saurashtra taking a first-innings lead at Rajkot. Bengal had the upper hand going into day five after Anustup Majumdar (63) and Arnab Nandi (40*) shared an unbeaten 91-run stand in the final session Thursday.
But Unadkat, who had single-handedly taken Saurashtra into the final with a seven-wicket haul against Gujarat on the final day of their semi-final, rose to the occasion yet again to script a historic victory.
And this beautiful legend Trophy comes to the homeland of Legendary Jam Ranji. Kudos Saurashtrians. @BCCIdomestic @BCCI #cricket @JUnadkat @imjadeja @cheteshwar1 @ShelJackson27 @appy_vasavada pic.twitter.com/omHNOosT9f
— Saurashtra Cricket (@saucricket) March 13, 2020
Saurashtra, deserving winners after a great season. Bengal fought real hard and will be a team to watch out for in the next season. @sportstarweb #ranjifinal #cricketlive pic.twitter.com/fLr2xXVOHB
— Wriddhaayan (@Wriddhaayan) March 13, 2020
Jaidev Unadkat you deserve it. What a player, what a leader. Whenever there was a passe, it was Unadkat who brought Saurashtra back in the game in the entire tournament. Commiserations for Bengal
— Abhishek Singh (@7Abhishek_Singh) March 13, 2020
#RanjiTrophy #RanjiTrophyFinals #Unadkat #SAUvsBEN #ranjifinal
Despite me wanting Saurashtra to win the #RanjiTrophyfinal this season. I'm not a big fan of giving the trophy to the team which leads after the 1st innings. First class cricket is also about comebacks. You have to pick 20 wickets to win the match.#RanjiTrophy #ranjifinal
— Deepak Ostwal (@medeepakostwal) March 13, 2020
Congratulations Saurashtra Cricket Association for winning the Precious Ranji Trophy.
— Kaustub Pawar (@ImKaustubhpawar) March 13, 2020
They have shown us one should not Give Up and keep fighting.@ranjiscores#RanjiTrophyfinal#ranjifinal #SAUvBEN #BCCI
A historic moment for Saurashtra as it is about to win its maiden #RanjiTrophy. A spirited performance by Jayadev Unadkat & his team has ensured their win in #ranjifinal by virtue of 1st innings lead. Congratulations to the team!@saucricket @JUnadkat @cheteshwar1 @BCCI pic.twitter.com/LoeZMimXBD
— Dhanraj Nathwani (@DhanrajNathwani) March 13, 2020
Congratulations to @saucricket for lifting the coveted Ranji trophy after their 4th attempt. What a performer @JUnadkat has been throughout the season and it's apt that he picked up the last wkt. Well done to Bengal team for a fine season too! #ranjifinal #ranjitrophy pic.twitter.com/3qsWgbaAU3
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 13, 2020
Congratulations, @saucricketon
— Vinayak Anawalikar (@V_Anawalikar) March 13, 2020
I hope @BCCI ammends rules so that teams share the honours in a drawn final.
If it's a dull draw, like today, nobody deserves to win. In an exciting draw, nobody deserves to lose.
Win Win for all three stake holders.#SAUvBEN #ranjifinal
#ranjifinal very Well fought Arun Lal and your team..U we’re almost there.Karson Ghavri an extremely lovable yet forgotten man in Indian cricket gets poetic justice.Bengal fans pls don’t blame Akash https://t.co/j7vufQwtFm was not his job to get the runs ! pic.twitter.com/bHzW0Qg0Ks
— Gautam Bhattacharya (@gbsaltlake) March 13, 2020
Credit to @JUnadkat ! He has risen above all the hate and trolls to deliver a Ranji Trophy masterclass! @saucricket grinded out oppositions and then pounced on them after they got mentally exhausted. Well done! #RanjiTrophyFinal #ranjifinal #SAUvBEN
— Shahbaz Waraich (@WaraichShahbaz) March 13, 2020
Unadkat does it for Saurashtra again! It’s the last wicket and Saurashtra gets the first innings lead of 44 and probably the result is pretty clear !
— Shrutika Gaekwad (@Shrutika_05_) March 13, 2020
Both the teams were playing for first innings lead and Saurashtra gets it#RanjiFinal #SAUvBEN
67 wicket from 16 innings including 7-
— Inudin Sayyed (@ainuana) March 13, 2020
5 per.
What a season for jaydev unadkat.
✨Highest wicket by a bowler in a Ranji season.#ranjifinal #jaydevunadkat #Saurashtra pic.twitter.com/hwWzgXbLPe