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Harsh Dubey takes 9 for 53, the best figures by a Vidarbha bowler, as Madhya Pradesh fold for 209
The left-arm spinner took nine of the ten Madhya Pradesh wickets on the first day of their Ranji Trophy match in Nagpur, a first for a Vidarbha bowler in the competition.
Key points
- Harsh Dubey returned 9 for 53, the best innings figures by a Vidarbha bowler in the Ranji Trophy.
- Madhya Pradesh were bowled out for 209 on day one in Nagpur.
- Nachiket Bhute took the only other wicket, removing Yash Dubey early.
Harsh Dubey wrote his name into Vidarbha’s record books in Nagpur on Monday, taking nine of the ten Madhya Pradesh wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 209 on the first day of their Ranji Trophy match.
His figures of 9 for 53 are the best innings return by a Vidarbha bowler in the Ranji Trophy, and no Vidarbha bowler had taken nine wickets in an innings in the competition before. The left-arm spinner bowled 23.1 overs in a long, patient spell and wore the Madhya Pradesh batting down one wicket at a time.
The one wicket that did not go to Dubey came early. Nachiket Bhute removed Yash Dubey, the Madhya Pradesh top-order batter, before the spinner took over and claimed every wicket that followed.
Madhya Pradesh never built the partnership they needed against him, and 209 was all they could manage.
The spell adds to an outstanding first-class record. Dubey took 69 wickets at an average of 16.99 in the 2024-25 season, and he made his India ODI debut in June this year and took four wickets in two matches. He is also on the books of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
Vidarbha now have three days to turn his effort into a first-innings lead. The four-day match runs until Thursday.