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Ranji Trophy Final Highlights, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: VID ride Malewar, Nair centuries, win third Ranji Trophy title

Ranji Trophy Final Highlights, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Vidarbha confirmed their victory over Kerala in the final of the Ranji Trophy, with a 37-run first innings lead enough to let them bat out a draw and win their third title in seven years. Karun Nair and Danish Malewar the heroes.

Key Events
  • 8:55 AM IST, Mar 2That's the game! Handshakes, and Vidarbha win the Ranji Trophy
  • 8:03 AM IST, Mar 2VID down to last wicket but healthy lead
  • 7:33 AM IST, Mar 2Back after lunch, VID continue to bat
  • 6:37 AM IST, Mar 2Lunch called at 314/7, lead of 351
  • 5:59 AM IST, Mar 2Seventh wicket as Vidarbha approach 300
  • 5:27 AM IST, Mar 2Eden Tom gets the sixth wicket
  • 5:07 AM IST, Mar 2Karun Nair finally dismissed on day 5 morning, but lead past 300
Ranji Trophy Final Highlights, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Vidarbha's Karun Nair celebrates his century during Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy final match against Kerala, at VCA stadium in Nagpur on Saturday.
Ranji Trophy Final Highlights, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Vidarbha's Karun Nair celebrates his century during Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy final match against Kerala, at VCA stadium in Nagpur on Saturday.

Ranji Trophy Final Highlights, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: It was a drama-free conclusion to the match from Vidarbha's perspective, as they consolidated on their 37-run first innings lead to romp home with a confident third innings batting effort. It was led by a Karun Nair century as he put on another spectacular partnership with Danish Malewar, and with the overall lead past 400, Kerala were happy to shake hands as the match slipped out of their grasps. A third Ranji title for the Vidarbha team, and one that follows on the heels of a truly dominant season from start to finish.

It's the final day of the Ranji Trophy season, as the final between Kerala and Vidarbha winds down to a close in Nagpur with the hosts well in front and holding all the cards. Vidarbha seem set to go on and lift their third Ranji Trophy title, in only a span of seven years, having established a narrow first innings lead before Karun Nair and Danish Malewar helped them heap on the runs in the third innings to more or less put the result beyond doubt.

Kerala have shown plenty of fight throughout their campaign, but just seemed to run out of answers as Karun — maybe the most in-form man in Indian cricket at the moment — seemed to score at ease despite coming in at 7/2, notching up another century in this domestic cycle after his formidable Vijay Hazare performance. Danish Malewar, who scored a fine century of his own in the first innings, provided able support, and Kerala simply don't look like they have enough in the tank to try and force a win in a must-win situation.

This match has seen the competitive element of the game all take place on the first four days, so this final day will likely meander to a slow close as a draw becomes more and more inevitable. Vidarbha, who won an incredible 6 games in the groups and have looked by far the best Ranji team all season, are good value for their almost inevitable victory. It would require a real miracle — and Kerala have already had plenty — for this match to swing the other way.

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It's the final day of the Ranji Trophy season, as the final between Kerala and Vidarbha winds down to a close in Nagpur with the hosts well in front and holding all the cards. Vidarbha seem set to go on and lift their third Ranji Trophy title, in only a span of seven years, having established a narrow first innings lead before Karun Nair and Danish Malewar helped them heap on the runs in the third innings to more or less put the result beyond doubt.

Kerala have shown plenty of fight throughout their campaign, but just seemed to run out of answers as Karun — maybe the most in-form man in Indian cricket at the moment — seemed to score at ease despite coming in at 7/2, notching up another century in this domestic cycle after his formidable Vijay Hazare performance. Danish Malewar, who scored a fine century of his own in the first innings, provided able support, and Kerala simply don't look like they have enough in the tank to try and force a win in a must-win situation.

This match has seen the competitive element of the game all take place on the first four days, so this final day will likely meander to a slow close as a draw becomes more and more inevitable. Vidarbha, who won an incredible 6 games in the groups and have looked by far the best Ranji team all season, are good value for their almost inevitable victory. It would require a real miracle — and Kerala have already had plenty — for this match to swing the other way.

Follow all the updates here:
Mar 02, 2025 2:25:28 PM IST

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: That's the game! Handshakes, and Vidarbha win the Ranji Trophy

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: The final act of the match is Darshan Nalkande bringing up a half-century, and both teams happy with the inevitable. Hands are shaken out in the middle, and a draw is the result, but Vidarbha wins the Ranji Trophy thanks to a first innings lead of 37 runs. What a performance from the hosts in Nagpur! Jubilant scenes out in the middle, what a campaign, and this the crown jewel.

Mar 02, 2025 1:33:04 PM IST

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: VID down to last wicket but healthy lead

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Last wicket partnership for Vidarbha now after a couple of quick wickets. Remember, the final wicket put on 44 for them in the first innings, and given the margin of their first innings lead, that is the one element that Kerala will really be kicking themselves for in this match.

Mar 02, 2025 1:03:48 PM IST

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Back after lunch, VID continue to bat

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Just going through the motions here a bit in the post-lunch session. Expect this match to start winding up relatively soon.

Mar 02, 2025 12:07:25 PM IST

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Lunch called at 314/7, lead of 351

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: There's the session Vidarbha wanted to bat through, and calmly so at the end despite a scattering of wickets.

Just under overs left in the day, and you have to feel it's a formality from here.

Mar 02, 2025 11:29:28 AM IST

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Seventh wicket as Vidarbha approach 300

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Kerala keeping themselves afloat by taking timely wickets, but Vidarbha won't be too concerned, knowing 95% of the job is done. Sarwate's third of the innings, dismissing captain Wadkar after his long stay at the crease.

Mar 02, 2025 10:57:21 AM IST

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Eden Tom gets the sixth wicket

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Kerala chipping away, with Eden Tom trapping Dubey LBW. It's 279/6, but Kerala not the sort of team to just fade away, even if the going was tough yesterday.

Mar 02, 2025 10:37:02 AM IST

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: Karun Nair finally dismissed on day 5 morning, but lead past 300

Ranji Trophy Final Live Score, Vidarbha vs Kerala Day 5: So far on day five, Kerala finally had a small win as a bowler was able to dismiss the red-hot Karun Nair. Karun scored 135 in the innings before being outfoxed by Aditya Sarwate, stumped by the super-quick Azharuddeen behind the stumps. Nonetheless, no urgency needed from Vidarbha, who have now taken the lead past 300 and will look to bat out this morning session at the very least, before potentially going for an outright win.

Mar 02, 2025 10:26:13 AM IST

Hello and welcome!

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of the final day of the Ranji Trophy 2024/25 final in Nagpur. Stay tuned for more updates!

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