Why didn’t Vidarbha go for outright win?

Mumbai, February 17 

Many were left stumped when the Irani Cup match was called off with Vidarbha needing just 11 runs for an outright win against Rest of India on Saturday. Rest of India skipper Ajinkya Rahane and his Vidarbha counterpart Faiz Fazal settled for a draw after the dismissal of Ganesh Satish on 87, when the hosts, chasing 280, were 269/5.

The decision, which seemed incomprehensible, left many wondering if the on-field umpires had erred in calling off the game. A Vidarbha player, however, clarified that the decision was taken by both the teams. The player said the hosts decided to settle for a draw after Satish failed to reach the three-figure mark. “We (Vidarbha) had taken the first-innings lead. The mandatory overs had started and we were waiting for Satish to get his hundred, but unfortunately he got out. So (after that) both the captains agreed and the game was called off,” he said. 

An experienced umpire, affiliated with a state cricket association, said after the mandatory overs start and if the two captains “mutually agree”, the umpires cannot intervene. The umpire, though, said that ethically the match should have continued.  According to BCCI law 16.1.6, “On the final day, if both captains (the batsmen at the wicket may act for their captain) accept that there is no prospect of either side achieving a victory, they may agree to finish the match after (a) the time for the commencement of the last hour has been reached or (b) there are a minimum of 15 overs to be bowled, whichever is later.”  — PTI 

We had taken the first-innings lead. The mandatory overs had started and we were waiting for Satish to get his hundred, but unfortunately he got out. So both the captains agreed to call off the game  —Vidarbha player