Mumbai: A fine bowling display by Mumbai skipper Ajit Agarkar and pacer Dhawal Kulkarni, coupled with a record-breaking century by Wasim Jaffer in the first innings helped Mumbai beat Saurashtra by an innings and 125 runs and lift the Ranji Trophy for the 40th time at the Wankhede Stadium here on Monday.
Saurashtra, who were trailing Mumbai by 207 runs in the first innings, were bundled out for 82 in 36.3 overs to give Mumbai the coveted trophy. Mumbai won their 40th Ranji title in 44 appearances in the final.
Agarkar and Kulkarni were the wreckers-in-chief with the skipper taking four wickets for 15 runs while Kulkarni scalped 5 for 32 to finish with the match figures of nine for 56.
The highest score for Saurashtra was 22 off 35 balls by Dharmendra Jadeja. Saurya Sanandiya was the only other player to reach double figures (16) after staying for more than an hour at the crease like another lower-order batsman Jaydev Unadkat who scored 9. Among the top seven batsmen dismissed, none reached double figures and three of them -- openers Sitanshu Kotak, Sagar Jogiyani and first innings top scorer Arpit Vasavada -- failed to score.
Mumbai also will now take on the Rest of India in the Irani Cup tie which is to be held at the Wankhade Stadium from February 6-10. The home team also won Rs 2 crore as the prize money while Saurashtra got Rs 1 crore.