A remarkable turnaround unfolded in the ongoing edition of the Ranji Trophy as an underdog Tripura side secured an emphatic 133-run victory against powerhouse and former champions Saurashtra. Having endured a grueling start to the competition with three consecutive defeats, Tripura turned their fortunes around in dominant fashion, controlling every session of the contest to register their maiden triumph of the campaign.
Dominant First-Innings Lead Paves the Way
Tripura laid the foundation for victory by posting a resilient total of 268 in their first innings. Saurashtra faltered badly in reply, collapsing for just 118 runs against disciplined bowling. That capitulation handed Tripura a commanding 150-run lead, placing the former champions on the defensive early in the contest.
Building on their momentum, Tripura posted 191 in their second innings, setting Saurashtra a daunting target of 342 runs for victory. Confronted with a steep fourth-innings chase, Saurashtra once again struggled to build durable partnerships. Their innings eventually folded at 208, handing Tripura a famous 133-run win that disrupted the status quo in the tournament.
Off-Spinner Sandeep Sarkar Claims Eight Wickets
The standout performer with the ball for Tripura was off-spinner Sandeep Sarkar, who dismantled the opposition batting lineup across both innings. In Saurashtra's first innings, Sarkar delivered a precise spell, conceding only 48 runs in 15.5 overs while picking up 4 wickets to trigger the collapse.
Sarkar continued to pose severe questions in the second innings as Saurashtra attempted to mount a fightback. Bowling an extensive spell of 26.3 overs, he gave away 81 runs and captured another 4 wickets. Concluding the game with an eight-wicket match haul, Sarkar proved to be the decisive factor in throttling Saurashtra's chase.
Twin Fifties from Sridam Paul and Bikramjit Debnath's Match-Winning Knock
With the bat, Sridam Paul emerged as a central figure for Tripura, demonstrating immense composure to notch half-centuries in both innings. Paul struck a fluent 86 in the first essay to anchor the lineup, following it up with a vital 50 in the second innings to maintain scoreboard pressure.
Tripura's lower order also rose to the occasion, led by Bikramjit Debnath's unbeaten 61. Debnath's crucial contribution under pressure earned him the Player of the Match accolade, ensuring his team established a match-winning cushion.
Karnataka Leads the Standings in Elite Group B
The outcome has added significant intrigue to the standings in Elite Group B of the Ranji Trophy. Karnataka currently leads the table with 16 points, built on the back of two wins and two draws.
Hyderabad occupies second position with 14 points, closely followed by Saurashtra, who remain stuck on 13 points in third place following their upset defeat. Punjab sits in fourth position with 12 points, keeping the qualifying race intensely competitive across the group.
