Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey achieved his career-best bowling figures both in an innings and in a match, propelling Vidarbha to an innings and 88-run victory, their fourth consecutive win of the season, over Himachal Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy Group B match here on Friday. The win extends last season’s runners-up lead to a commanding seven points clear of Gujarat in the group, virtually securing them a second successive knockout berth. Vidarbha now have 25 points, while Gujarat have 18.
At their home ground, Vidarbha’s task was merely to wrap things up after posting a mammoth 575 in their first innings, which had left Himachal Pradesh struggling. Resuming their second innings at 51/2, Himachal Pradesh collapsed to 180 all out in 61.1 overs. Seamer Praful Hinge (2/27) made the first breakthrough, dismissing Mayank Dagar and ending his defiant stay at the crease. This wicket opened the floodgates as Dubey, who quickly raced to career-best figures of 6/36, marked his second successive five-wicket haul in the match. He had earlier claimed 5/71 in the first innings, as Vidarbha bowled Himachal out for 307. Off-spinner Akshay Wakhare chipped in with 2/68. The 22-year-old Dubey now boasts an impressive 62 First-Class wickets in just 12 matches.
Meanwhile, Gujarat took three points with a narrow first-innings lead over Puducherry, as their Ranji Trophy clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad ended in a draw. Young left-handed opener Aarya Desai was named Player of the Match for his impressive 200 off 342 balls, which propelled Gujarat to 375 and a slim 14-run first-innings lead. This advantage proved decisive, leaving Puducherry with just one point from the match.
