Rest of India XI pulled off the third highest run chase in India’s domestic history to beat Ranji Trophy Champions Mumbai in a nerve-wracking finish. Propelled by Faiz Fazal’s watchfully compiled century, followed by Karun Nair’s pacy (92) and Stuart Binny’s quick-fire half-century, the team pulled off a record 480-run chase against Mumbai to lift the Irani Cup at the Cricket Club of India. The previous best chase was for the title was in 1982-83, when ROI beat Delhi, chasing 421.
ROI needed 380 runs on the final day after resuming on 100 for one on the fifth morning and Fazal anchored the mammoth chase with patience and determination to overhaul what had seemed like an improbable task. After Mumbai had dominated the proceedings for the first three days, Jaydev Unadkat and Jayant Yadav helped skittle them out for 182 in the second innings on the fourth day with a four-for.
After a dismal performance in the first innings, Fazal played watchfully in ROI's second outing to slowly bring themselves in the reckoning. Fazal resumed the day with Sudip Chatterjee as they steadily chipped away at the Mumbai attack in the first session. They added 76 runs to the overnight score and laid a solid foundation keeping wickets in hand. The blossoming stand ended with Iqbal Abdullah taking a one-handed catch diving to his left to send back Chatterjee as he lobbed it back in the bowler’s direction.
Nair, who then joined the opener, milked the attack as the pair took the team to Lunch at 211 for two. By adding 111 runs in the first session for the loss of just one wicket, ROI had kept themselves afloat. The third wicket partnership flourished post Lunch even as edges flew and catches, although tough, were missed.
Fazal, who reached his century with a single off Jay Bista, received a life while on 104, as the silly point fielder missed a tough chance off Lad. At the other end, Nair who was batting a faster clip, picked two off Iyer to reach his fifty. Having taken the team past the 250-run mark for the loss of just two wickets, the pair had ensured that the match was hanging in the balance. They kept the strike rate rotating with singles as they steadily added to the total.
The 130-run partnership breathed new life into the ROI innings which helped seize the momentum from Mumbai. The team was poised on 306 when Fazal stepping out to Iqbal Abdullah departed edging the ball to the wicketkeeper for 127. 30 runs after the end of the opener’s marathon innings, Nair perished top-edging the left-arm spinner to Iyer at short fine-leg as he looked to sweep.
A bit later, with the team on 353, Akhil Herwadkar’s direct hit to the wicketkeeper’s end that uprooted the middle stump and sent back Naman Ojha, who was running in from the non-striker’s end. Stuart Binny, then took the attack to the Mumbai bowlers with gusto. One of his two sixes crashed into the press box as the partnership flourished.
At 418 for five, ROI needed 62 run when the mandatory overs started. The Jackson-Binny pair who were plundering runs off the Mumbai attack had added 92 runs off 101 ball until the Karnataka all-rounder became Iqbal Abdullah’s fifth victim. Swinging his bat, Binny holed out and was caught by Bista running backwards from point 54.
With the team on 445 for six, Jayant Yadav then joined Sheldon Jackson as the match headed for a tight finish. However, the duo held their nerve as they continued to pluck runs off the bowling and maintain the tempo. Jackson then took the team to the finish line with a boundary over mid-off.
Match result: ROI won by 4 wickets
Man of the Match: Karun Nair
Brief scores:
Day 5 – ROI 2nd inn 482/6 in 129.4 overs (F Fazal 127, K Nair 92, S Jackson 59*, S Binny 54, I Abdullah 5/154)
Day 4 – Mumbai 2nd inn 182/10 in 51.2 overs (S Lad 60, S Yadav 49, J Yadav 4/93, J Unadkat 3/16); ROI XI 2nd inn 100/1 in 37 overs (KS Bharat 42, F Fazal 41, I Abdullah 1/19) Need 380 runs to win
Day 3 – ROI XI 306/9 in 99.5 overs (K Nair 94, J Unadkat 48, A Nayar 3/35, J Bista 2/52); Mumbai 2nd inn 2/1 in 0.4 overs (J Bista 1*, J Unadkat 1/2)
Day 2 – Mumbai 1st inn 603/10 in158.2 overs (SK Yadav 156, S Lad 66, A Tare 65, J Yadav 4/132, J Unadkat 2/128); ROI XI 1st inn 36/1 in 16 overs (F Fazal 18*, A Nayar 1/4)
Day 1 - Mumbai 1st inn 386/3 in 83 overs (J Bista 104, A Herwadkar 90, SK Yadav 88*, S Binny 1/35)
