To win the Ranji Trophy after trailing by 151 on the first innings, as Baroda did, is a remarkable accomplishment. In a game that underwent several intricate twists and turns, two telling bursts from Zaheer Khan on the fifth morning swung the Ranji Trophy final Baroda's way, allowing the hosts to savour their maiden title triumph in 43 years. After a rather ordinary showing through the first four days, the 23-year-old left arm quick raised his game to deliver the killer punch at the climax.

Zaheer's commitments with the national team curtailed his participation in the Ranji Trophy to just two games in the West Zone league. Although Baroda won three knockout games without his services, Zaheer's return for the final was expected to hand Baroda a decisive edge against a tenacious opponent. But Zaheer began in erratic fashion, spraying the ball all over the place in the first innings as Baroda strove to peg back their opponents after being rolled over for 243 on the opening day. He did scalp three wickets but a stubborn century stand for the ninth wicket between Murali Kartik and Kulamani Parida gave Railways a seemingly unassailable lead.

A gallant fightback by Baroda's batsmen, spearheaded by opener Satyajit Parab, squeezed out a final target of 223. The spin duo of Buch and Bhoite extracted four wickets by stumps on the penultimate day to pave the way for a tense climax. Opening the proceedings on the fifth day, Zaheer settled onto a nagging off stump line to harry the batsmen. The absence of fellow new ball operator Rakesh Patel through a knee injury inflicted an additional workload on Zaheer and he responded magnificently. Yere Goud, the highest run getter in the Ranji Trophy this season was hustled out quickly as was Shreyas Khanolkar. But Railways simply refused to roll over and die. The visitors inched their way closer through an obstinate 83 run association for the seventh wicket. Recalled by skipper Jacob Martin in a last throw of the dice, Zaheer scythed through the tail in a hostile burst to wrap up the game by 21 runs.

An irony that it took an import from Srirampur in Maharashtra to provide the breakthrough for Baroda. But then Zaheer was merely walking in the footsteps of a legendary predecessor. Baroda's most famous cricketing son Vijay Hazare, who was the kingpin of the team's four previous triumphs, himself hailed from Sangli in Maharashtra.