Vidarbha defend the lowest score in a first-class match in India to rise up Group D table

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jan-2023Left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate picked up 6 for 17 to help Vidarbha bowl out Gujarat for 54 and defend 73 on a dramatic third morning of their Ranji Trophy game in Jamtha. It was the lowest target defended successfully in first-class cricket in India; the previous lowest was 78, defended by Bihar against Delhi in Jamshedpur in 1948-49.Jamtha is also the venue for the first India-Australia Test, starting February 9. That game, though, will be played on one of the centre pitches, while this match was played on a side pitch.On Wednesday, Siddharth Desai, another left-arm spinner, had taken 6 for 74 to limit Vidarbha to 254. At that time, a Gujarat win looked like a mere formality, even though they went to stumps at 6 for 1.Sarwate, however, had other ideas. Having taken a five-for in the first innings, he ran through Gujarat’s line-up once again on Thursday. He was supported by Harsh Dubey, also a left-arm spinner, who took 3 for 11. Siddharth, run out for 18, was the only Gujarat batter to reach the double digits.Sarwate was named Player of the Match for his career-best haul of 11 for 81.Vidarbha are now third in Group D. Vidarbha’s final game of the round is against second-placed Punjab, which could decide who make it to the knockouts.