Kerala defeated Gujarat on the basis of a slender 2-run first innings lead as their match ended in a tame draw in Ahmedabad.
It turned out to be an absorbing final day's play at the Jamtha Stadium with Mumbai stretching the match into the final session in spite of losing their top six batters in the opening session.
Needing 383 runs for an outright win, Mumbai resumed on 83/3 but lost Shivam Dube for the addition of only one run to their total as Yash Thakur ratted his stumps. In came Surya Kumar Yadav and hit four boundaries before Harsh Dubey had him caught by Athrava Taide for 23. And when Dubey also breached Akash Anand's defence, Mumbai were reduced to 124/6.
However, the visitors fought back gallantly through a 103-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Shams Mulani (46) and Shardul Thakur (66). A brilliant pick-up and a direct hit scored by Danish Malewar sent Mulani back, but Mumbai's tail wagged merrily as Tanush Kotian (26), Mohit Awasthi (34) and Royston Dias (23*) showed remarkable resilience to delay the inevitable.
The end came when Dubey trapped Awasthi LBW with a delivery that kept a bit low. The decision was reviewed by the batsman but the umpire's decision was upheld, confirming Vidarbha's fourth entry in the final. Mumbai's second innings folded for 325, leaving Vidarbha victors by 80 runs.
Dubey finished with yet another five-wicket haul --- his seventh in Ranji Trophy this season --- taking his overall tally to 66.
Yash Rathod who made 54 and 151 in the two innings was adjudged as the Player of the match.
He received the medal from VCA President Justice Vinay M. Deshpande (former judge of the Bombay High Court).
BRIEF SCORES
Vidarbha 1st innings: 383
Mumbai 1st innings: 270
Vidarbha 2nd innings 292 all out in 110.1 overs (Yash Rathod 151, Akshay Wadkar 52; Shams Mulani 6/85, Tanush Kotian 3/81)
Mumbai 2nd innings: 325 all out in 97.5 overs (Akash Anand 39, Shams Mulani 46, Shardul Thakur 66, Tanush Kotian 26, Mohit Awasthi 34, Royston Dias, 23 n.o.; Harsh Dubey 5/127, Yash Thakur 2/43, Parth Rekhade 2/70)