Aditya Sarwate scores six as Gujarat falter for 54 while chasing 73

Aditya Sarwate, a left-arm spinner, helped Vidarbha bowl out Gujarat for 54 and defend 73 on a crucial third morning of their Ranji Trophy match in Jamtha by taking 6 for 17. The previous lowest target successfully defended in first-class cricket in India was 78, held by Bihar against Delhi in Jamshedpur in 1948–1949.

The first Test match between Australia and India will take place in Jamtha beginning on February 9. But unlike this match, which was played on a side pitch, that game will be played on one of the center pitches.

Another left-arm spinner, Siddharth Desai, had limited Vidarbha to 254 runs on Wednesday after taking 6 for 74. Even though Gujarat went to stumps at 6 for 1, a victory at the moment seemed like a formality.

But Sarwate had other plans. On Thursday, after taking five wickets in the first innings, he again destroyed Gujarat’s batting order. Harsh Dubey, a left-arm spinner like him, assisted him and finished with 3 for 11. The only Gujarati hitter to reach double digits was Siddharth, who was run out for 18 runs.

Sarwate’s 11 for 81 total, a career high, earned him Player of the Match honors.

Following their most recent victory, Vidarbha and Punjab are presently tied for second place in Group D. However, because Punjab forced a follow-on in their game against table-toppers Madhya Pradesh, it is likely that they will take the lone second place.

Vidarbha’s final match in the group stage against Punjab might determine who advances to the knockout phase.