The most hotly contested Ranji group
Qualification scenarios for teams in Group B of the Ranji Trophy 2013-14
Kanishkaa Balachandran
29-Dec-2013
The most compelling among the three groups with five teams competing for two remaining spots - Railways are already through to the quarter-finals. Uttar Pradesh are on second with 23 points and Baroda, third, with 20. Madhya Pradesh is the only team to have completed its quota of eight games, but they are out of contention.
Uttar Pradesh - 23 points in seven matches; last league match v Railways
UP were denied enough time to push for a win in their previous match against Madhya Pradesh, due to fog in Kanpur. They had to settle for three points in the draw. They will need at least three points in their next game to seal their qualification. If they lose, they will have to hope that the Tamil Nadu-Bengal game is drawn. If that game isn't drawn, they will need Baroda to take no more than one point against Rajasthan because if the two teams are tied on points, Baroda will be ahead because they have more wins.
UP were denied enough time to push for a win in their previous match against Madhya Pradesh, due to fog in Kanpur. They had to settle for three points in the draw. They will need at least three points in their next game to seal their qualification. If they lose, they will have to hope that the Tamil Nadu-Bengal game is drawn. If that game isn't drawn, they will need Baroda to take no more than one point against Rajasthan because if the two teams are tied on points, Baroda will be ahead because they have more wins.
Baroda - 20 points in seven matches; last league match v Rajasthan
A last-minute win against Saurashtra has boosted their chances of qualifying, but there's much left to do. Currently in third place, a win in their final game against the struggling Rajasthan will take them through. A draw with innings points will take them to 23, and then they will need other results to go their way. A UP defeat will certainly help, and they will hope that the Tamil Nadu-Bengal clash doesn't end in an outright victory. They will also keep an eye on Saurashtra's fortunes. If Saurashtra win with a bonus point, and Baroda get first-innings lead, the teams will be tied on 23. But Baroda have the edge over Saurashtra by virtue of more outright wins in the competition.
A last-minute win against Saurashtra has boosted their chances of qualifying, but there's much left to do. Currently in third place, a win in their final game against the struggling Rajasthan will take them through. A draw with innings points will take them to 23, and then they will need other results to go their way. A UP defeat will certainly help, and they will hope that the Tamil Nadu-Bengal clash doesn't end in an outright victory. They will also keep an eye on Saurashtra's fortunes. If Saurashtra win with a bonus point, and Baroda get first-innings lead, the teams will be tied on 23. But Baroda have the edge over Saurashtra by virtue of more outright wins in the competition.
Tamil Nadu - 18 points in seven matches; last league match v Bengal
In fourth place, Tamil Nadu haven't dropped a game in the tournament, but go into the final game desperate for points. A win will take them to either 24 or 25. Wins for UP and Baroda will knock Tamil Nadu out. Essentially, they need a victory, preferably with a bonus point, and need UP and Baroda to collect minimal points. A draw with an innings lead will take Tamil Nadu to 21, which will still give them a theoretical chance. Then, if Baroda get one point from a draw, Tamil Nadu and Baroda will be tied on 21 points but the latter will go through by virtue of more victories (three as opposed to one).
In fourth place, Tamil Nadu haven't dropped a game in the tournament, but go into the final game desperate for points. A win will take them to either 24 or 25. Wins for UP and Baroda will knock Tamil Nadu out. Essentially, they need a victory, preferably with a bonus point, and need UP and Baroda to collect minimal points. A draw with an innings lead will take Tamil Nadu to 21, which will still give them a theoretical chance. Then, if Baroda get one point from a draw, Tamil Nadu and Baroda will be tied on 21 points but the latter will go through by virtue of more victories (three as opposed to one).
Bengal - 18 points from seven matches; last league match v Tamil Nadu
Bengal's position is exactly like Tamil Nadu's, and since these two are playing each other, Bengal will need to beat Tamil Nadu with a bonus point to feel safe.
Bengal's position is exactly like Tamil Nadu's, and since these two are playing each other, Bengal will need to beat Tamil Nadu with a bonus point to feel safe.
Saurashtra - 16 points from seven games; last league match v Services
Down but not out. Last year's finalists failed to squeeze out a point against Baroda and need nothing less than a bonus-point win in their final game to stay in the race. If they end the league on 23 points, they will need other results to go their way. With a bonus-point win, they could be tied on points with UP, if the latter are defeated. Both teams will also be tied on number of wins, with the quotient coming into play. They will also hope the TN-Bengal game is drawn.
Down but not out. Last year's finalists failed to squeeze out a point against Baroda and need nothing less than a bonus-point win in their final game to stay in the race. If they end the league on 23 points, they will need other results to go their way. With a bonus-point win, they could be tied on points with UP, if the latter are defeated. Both teams will also be tied on number of wins, with the quotient coming into play. They will also hope the TN-Bengal game is drawn.
Rajasthan - 14 points from seven games; last league match v Baroda
Seventh-placed Rajasthan need nothing less than a bonus point to have a mathematical chance. That will take them to 21. They will also need the TN-Bengal match to end in a draw. Should that happen, then they will be tied with either of the two teams on 21 but will go through on the basis of more outright wins.
Seventh-placed Rajasthan need nothing less than a bonus point to have a mathematical chance. That will take them to 21. They will also need the TN-Bengal match to end in a draw. Should that happen, then they will be tied with either of the two teams on 21 but will go through on the basis of more outright wins.
Madhya Pradesh - 12 points in eight games; all matches completed
No chance of qualification. They will, however, escape relegation to Group C if Services fail to win their final game.
No chance of qualification. They will, however, escape relegation to Group C if Services fail to win their final game.
Services - 6 points in seven games; last league match v Saurashtra
No chance of qualifying, but can escape relegation if they win their final game, with or without a bonus point. That will push MP to the bottom.
No chance of qualifying, but can escape relegation if they win their final game, with or without a bonus point. That will push MP to the bottom.
Group B table
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | Aban | Pts | Quotient | For | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railways | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 1.157 | 2685/93 | 2496/100 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 1.177 | 3143/95 | 2924/104 |
| Baroda | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 1.045 | 2528/108 | 2127/95 |
| Tamil Nadu | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 1.170 | 3055/73 | 2790/78 |
| Bengal | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 1.040 | 2600/81 | 2501/81 |
| Saurashtra | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 1.262 | 3453/77 | 3446/97 |
| Rajasthan | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 0.884 | 2991/104 | 3124/96 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0.895 | 3602/113 | 3812/107 |
| Services | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0.645 | 2468/103 | 3305/89 |
Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo