Minor surprises in Ranji Trophy Preliminary league

The preliminary league of the Ranji Trophy championship, which commenced on October 26, concluded with the East Zone game between Bihar and Assam on January 15. The elaborate eleven week exercise has now seperated the men from the boys with the top three teams in each of the five zones qualifying for the Super League, which commences on February 5.

The league stage did throw up a couple of minor surprises but overall, it went according to form. In the East Zone, Orissa with 23 points, won the Mona Mitter Memorial Challenge Cup. Bihar (22) and Bengal (21) were the other teams to qualify. The keen tussle between the three teams was the highlight. Assam finished with 14 points while Tripura lost all their four matches.

Punjab (34 points) won the Devraj Puri Trophy for the North Zone championship. Delhi (32) and Haryana (27) predictably were the other teams to qualify from the zone. Punjab and Delhi asserted their supremacy scoring three wins out of five matches. Jammu & Kashmir were fourth with 14 points followed by Himachal Pradesh with eight points. For old timers, it was heart breaking to see Services, a champion side of yesteryear, lose all five matches and finish at the bottom without even a single point.

Tamil Nadu (31) regained the MD Sounderarajan Trophy, symbol of supremacy in the South Zone. Hyderabad (29) and reigning champions Karnataka (27) finished second and third. Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad had two wins from their five matches while Karnataka had three. But Karnataka's loss to Tamil Nadu cost them the zonal championship. Kerala (19) and Andhra (14) took fourth and fifth positions while Goa were another team to lose all their matches.

The inability of Maharashtra to qualify from the West Zone was a minor surprise. They finished with 13 points from their four games, one point behind Saurashtra who took third spot. Mumbai with 24 points (they won two of their four games) took the Talim Trophy and they were followed by Baroda with 20 points. Gujarat finished at the cellar position with nine points.

Rajasthan, with 23 points, won the Mewar Trophy for the Central Zone championship. Railways (19) and Uttar Pradesh (19) were second and third. The failure of Madhya Pradesh to qualify, especially after their excellent record in the one day championship in which they won all four matches, was a minor surprise. They had 14 points. Vidarbha brought up the rear with five points.