KOLKATA: Jharkhand's Ranji Trophy campaign went from bad to worse as they succumbed to a huge 308-run loss against Vidarbha at JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi on Monday.
Conceding first-innings lead in all three matches earlier in the season, Jharkhand had to be content with only a point from each game but on Monday they suffered a morale-crushing defeat at their home ground.
Vidarbha registered a commanding victory on the final day thanks to India pacer Umesh Yadav and Aditya Thakare's superb bowling exploits. Having declared their second essay on 374/9 on the penultimate day, thanks to fine knocks by Dhruv Shorey (113) and Atharva Taide (138), the visitors set the home side an improbable target of 429, who finished Day 3 on 51/3.
Faced with a daunting task of seeing off the day with only seven wickets in hands or a mountain to climb, Jharkhand began the day on a shaky note and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Yadav (4 for 43) and Thakare (3 for 28) shared seven wickets between them to shatter the hosts' batting, bundling out Jharkhand for a meagre 120. Supriyo Chakraborty (31) was the top-scorer for the home side, followed by captain Virat Singh (28) and Nazim Siddiquie (24).
The result meant that Vidarbha climbed to the top of Group A table, followed by Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Services, Jharkhand and Manipur.
Brief scores (Group A, in Ranchi): Vidarbha 204 & 374/9 decl. Jharkhand 150 & 120 (Supriyo Chakraborty 31; Umesh Yadav 4/43, Aditya Thakare 3/28). Vidarbha won by 308 runs. Points: Vidarbha 6, Jharkhand 1
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