New Delhi, Nov 11 (NationPress) The concluding day of Round 4 of this season's Ranji Trophy unfolded thrillingly, with Madhya Pradesh joining Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, and Vidarbha in securing significant victories. While some matches ended in draws, others delivered exhilarating finishes that altered the standings in the group tables.

Delhi vs Jammu & Kashmir

The ascent of Jammu and Kashmir in Indian domestic cricket reached a significant milestone as they achieved their first-ever Ranji Trophy victory over Delhi, triumphing by seven wickets.

Chasing a target of 179, J&K relied on an unbeaten 133 from opener Qamran Iqbal, marking his career-best performance, to complete the chase with poise. The foundation of this historic win was laid by familiar stars. Auqib Nabi decimated Delhi’s first innings with an impressive 5 for 35, while captain Paras Dogra contributed a steady 106 and Abdul Samad added a brisk 85, ensuring a solid lead.

When Delhi tried to mount a comeback, young Vanshaj Sharma delivered a decisive spell of 6 for 68, extinguishing any hopes of a turnaround.

This victory marked J&K's second outright win of the season, elevating them to second place in the Elite Group D table, just behind Mumbai. They have achieved notable wins over several heavyweight teams in recent years, including Mumbai, Baroda, Rajasthan, and Vidarbha.

Bengal vs Railways

Railways faltered early on Tuesday, paving the way for Bengal to surge to the top of the Elite Group C table with a resounding victory by an innings and 120 runs at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium.

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed was the standout, bouncing back from an early dropped catch to claim seven wickets before lunch, concluding the Railways innings and securing all seven points for Bengal.

The early dismissal of Bhargav Merai triggered a collapse as Karn Sharma, Upendra Yadav, Akash Pandey, Adarsh Singh, and Kunal Yadav fell in quick succession. Bengal's intensity on the field matched Shahbaz's control with the ball, sealing a victory that will be discussed for weeks.

Madhya Pradesh vs Goa

Madhya Pradesh continued their winning streak with a remarkable three-wicket victory over Goa in a nail-biting chase. Starting the day at 21 for 1 and needing 328, MP faced relentless pressure as Goa struck back.

Captain Shubham Sharma steadied the innings with a crucial 72, but it was Saransh Jain who rose to the occasion. Coming in at 176 for 4, Jain produced a match-winning 82 not out, guiding MP home with an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 65 with Arshad Khan.

For Goa, this defeat was hard to swallow after holding a 97-run lead in the first innings. For Madhya Pradesh, it showcased their resilience and depth — hallmarks of their ascent since clinching the 2022 Ranji Trophy title.

Karnataka vs Maharashtra

While the penultimate day in Pune was filled with drama akin to a Bollywood thriller, the final day ended quietly as Karnataka and Maharashtra settled for a draw in their Group B match at the MCA Stadium.

Karnataka, opting for safety, batted through the final day with Mayank Agarwal scoring 103 (249b, 8x4, 1x6) and Abhinav Manohar adding 96 (161b, 11x4, 2x6), ensuring their slender 13-run first-innings lead was preserved.

Despite Maharashtra’s bowlers, particularly Jalaj Saxena and Vicky Ostwal, searching for breakthroughs, Karnataka's resilience prevailed, leading to an early handshake with Karnataka earning three points and Maharashtra one.

Rajasthan vs Hyderabad

Rajasthan's pursuit of 340 runs against Hyderabad held promise but concluded in a draw, with the visitors bowled out for 207. Early partnerships of 79 and 94 for the first two wickets gave Rajasthan hope, but the target proved daunting.

Salman Khan was the top scorer with 79, while Mahipal Lomror shone with four wickets in Hyderabad’s second innings. The Player of the Match award went to Rahul Radesh for his stellar 129 in the first innings, which had given Hyderabad early control.

Vidarbha vs Odisha

In Nagpur, Vidarbha secured a 100-run victory over Odisha, earning six points. After trailing in the first innings, Vidarbha’s bowlers staged a strong comeback.

Left-arm spinner Parth Rekhade achieved his maiden five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket, while Praful Hinge contributed three wickets. Despite Odisha’s openers adding 100 runs, a middle-order collapse of 5 for 39 dashed their hopes of chasing down 345.

Dhruv Shorey was named Player of the Match for his twin centuries — 144 and 101.