Ranji Trophy 2019-20: Statistical review of the tournament
Saurashtra clinched their maiden Ranji Trophy title after gaining the first innings lead in the all-important final against Bengal. This was the fourth Ranji Trophy final for Saurashtra in eight seasons. Bengal was steering towards victory, but were bundled out for 381 on Day 5. The match was eventually drawn, but Saurashtra grabbed the trophy. Here is the statistical review of the tournament.
How did the match pan out?
Batting first, Saurashtra posted 425 in 171.5 overs. Arpit Vasavada played a terrific 106-run knock, while Vishvaraj Jadeja Avi Barot and Cheteshwar Pujara scored fifties. Bengal staged a terrific fightback in reply, but fell short of 44 runs to fetch the precious first innings lead. Saruashtra skipper Jaydev Unadkat snapped up two wickets on the final day, guiding them to victory.
A historic season for Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir entered their second ever quarter-final in the tournament's history, this season. They recorded their maiden appearance in the last eight in 2013-14. Prior to this, the farthest J&K had progressed in the tournament was the pre-quarter-finals against Odisha in 2000-01. The Parvez Rasool-led side finished on top in Group C with 39 points, having registered six wins and a solitary defeat.
From plate division to quarter-final
In the last season, Goa were relegated to the Plate Division as they were sans as single win in nine matches. They turned the tables in the 2019-20 edition after winning seven games and losing none. Goa thrashed Mizoram by an innings and 211 runs to seal a spot in the quarter-finals. However, they were handed a 464-run defeat by Gujarat later on.
Rahul Dalal had a phenomenal season with the bat
Arunachal Pradesh's Rahul Dalal made merry with the bat in the recently-concluded season. He amassed 1,340 runs in 17 innings at a substantial average of 95.71. However, Rahul missed out on breaking VVS Laxman's all-time Ranji Trophy batting record. While Laxman scored 1,415 runs in the 1999-00 season, the former's tally became the second highest in the history of the tournament.
A maiden Ranji Trophy title for Saurashtra
Saurashtra have won their maiden Ranji Trophy tournament after 69 long years. This is Saurashtra's first last title-clinching campaign since they began competing in 1950-51. Western India was the the last team from Saurashtra to win the title (in 1943-44). Vidarbha thrashed Saurashtra by 78 runs in the previous edition, while they were beaten twice by Mumbai in 2015-16 and 2012-13 respectively.
Unadkat led Saurashtra to a title-clinching victory
Jaydev Unadkat overtook Karnataka's Dodda Ganesh (62) to become the highest wicket-taker among fast bowlers in a Ranji Trophy season. The overall tally is led by spinner Ashutosh Aman who snapped up 68 wickets in 2018-19 season and overtook the Indian legend Bishan Singh Bedi. Unadkat was one wicket shy of breaking this record. He finished the season with 67 scalps to his name.
