Saha’s 203, Pujara’s 83 Guide ROI to Irani Cup Win vs Gujarat

Wriddhiman Saha's scored a career-best first-class knock of 203 as Rest of India lifted the Irani Cup after effortlessly chasing down a 379-run target set by Gujarat with more than two sessions to spare in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Saha's 203 and skipper Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten 116 helped Rest of India overhaul the target with six wickets still in hand.

Wicketkeeper Saha and Pujara, unbeaten on 123 and 83 respectively with a team score of 266 for four at the end of Day 4, steered the team home an hour before lunch in 19.1 overs at the Brabourne Stadium on Tuesday.

This was the 15th time in the last 19 editions that Rest of India had won the tournament, which is in its 55th year.

Rest of India finished with 379 for four in 103.1 overs to cruise home in style.

The duo's fifth wicket unbroken partnership was worth 316 runs in 78.5 overs. It was the second-best in the tournament's history after the highest of 327 for the fourth wicket between Ravi Shastri and Praveen Amre for Mumbai against the Rest at Bengaluru in 1990-91.

Both the batsmen were largely untroubled by the newly-crowned Ranji Trophy champions' bowling attack even though the target set by Gujarat, who had taken a handy 132-run first innings lead, was stiff.

Saha's unconquered effort, after he reached his first-ever double century with a four off Karan Patel, was also the highest score by a wicketkeeper batsman in the tournament's history.

Left-arm spinner Hardik Patel was the most successful bowler with figures of 2 for 104 while the other two wickets were shared by medium pacer Mohit Thadani and offspinner Karan Patel.

Chintan Gaja, who bowled very well and exploited the wicket in the first essay to take 4 for 60, disappointed in the second to remain wicket-less after conceding 66 runs.

Brief scores: Gujarat 358 and 246 lost to Rest of India 226 and 379 for 4 in 103.1 overs (C Pujara not out 116, W Saha not out 203; Hardik Patel 2 for 104) by 6 wickets.

(With inputs from PTI)