Gujarat lifted the Ranjhi Trophy for the first time in their history, beating domestic heavyweights Mumbai by five wickets on the last day of the final at Indore's Holkar Stadium. This stunning victory came on Saturday, the last day of this engaging summit clash, with Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel scoring an excellent 143 to help Gujarat chase down 312. It capped a memorable season for Parthiv's team, one that began in the first week of October with a hard-earned three points in draw with Baroda in Jaipur and featured victories over Railways, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and now the defending champions. Parthiv has become the first Gujarat captain to lift the coveted trophy, and this win against the odds bore his stamp: a first-innings 90 to help his team take the lead, seven dismissals and a sparkling hundred to complete the win. This achievement also makes Gujarat the first team to have won all three major domestic titles, the Vijay Hazare trophy (they are defending champions) and Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy (twice) being the others. The final appeared, in the view of many, a mismatch on paper, Mumbai, 41 time winners, in their 46th final. Five titles in the last 10 years. Gujarat, perennial competitors but rarely title contenders, in their second final in 83 years of the competition. A team, mind you, missing their two most influential bowlers in Jasprit Burman (on India duty) and Azar Patel (injured).
DUBIOUS UMPIRING
Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem was the pick of rest of India bowlers with four wickets, but the Jharkhand bowler's two dismissals caused huge controversy. Umpire Virender Sharma came under the spotlight when Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel reacted sharply at being given out caught bat and pad. Parthiv was unlucky to be given out caught at short leg as Nadeem's ball was nowhere near the bat. The batsman could be heard shouting "umpiring kyu karte ho" (why are you umpiring) while repeatedly turning around and glaring at the official on his walk back. The decision which left him five short of 10,000 first-class runs upset Parthiv so much that he stormed into match refree's room and was heard complaining about it.
DUBIOUS UMPIRING
Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem was the pick of rest of India bowlers with four wickets, but the Jharkhand bowler's two dismissals caused huge controversy. Umpire Virender Sharma came under the spotlight when Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel reacted sharply at being given out caught bat and pad. Parthiv was unlucky to be given out caught at short leg as Nadeem's ball was nowhere near the bat. The batsman could be heard shouting "umpiring kyu karte ho" (why are you umpiring) while repeatedly turning around and glaring at the official on his walk back. The decision which left him five short of 10,000 first-class runs upset Parthiv so much that he stormed into match refree's room and was heard complaining about it.
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