Tamil Nadu versus Mumbai
Mumbai advanced to the event final for the 48th time, defeating Tamil Nadu in a commanding three-day match in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at the BKS complex. Mumbai crushed Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs, with Shams Mulani taking four wickets in their second innings as the team crumbled for 182.
Mumbai took a 232-run advantage after adding 25 more runs to their overnight total. Mumbai had begun the day at 353/9 in their first innings. After an 88-run partnership for the last wicket between Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande, Kotian was left stranded on 89 after Deshpande was removed.
After scoring a vital 109 runs, Shardul Thakur removed openers Narayan Jagadeesan and Sai Sudharsan from the game, while Washington Sundar was dismissed by Mohit Avasthi, leaving Tamil Nadu struggling at 10/3 in the second innings. After Baba Indrajith made a valiant 70 and attempted to form partnerships with the middle order, Mumbai continued to chip away at the opposition’s wickets and eventually knocked them out in 51.5 overs.
Brief scores: Mumbai 378 (Shardul Thakur 109, Tanush Kotian 89*, Sai Kishore 6-99) defeated Tamil Nadu 146 (Vijay Shankar 44; Tushar Deshpande 3-24) & 162 (Baba Indrajith 70; Shams Mulani 4-53) by an innings and seventy runs.
Madhya Pradesh vs. Vidarbha, Nagpur
On the third day of the Ranji match in Nagpur, Vidarbha produced a better batting display to increase their chances of advancing to the final. Vidarbha’s hitters, led by Yash Rathod (97*) and Akshay Wadkar (77), gave a fine account of themselves as they completed the day at 343/6, leading by 261 runs, after a subpar batting display in the first essay, where they were bowled out for 170 and allowed Madhya Pradesh to take the first innings lead.
With a lot of strain to stay in the race with the early loss of Akshay Wakhare in the morning, Vidarbha started the day at 13/1. Rebuilding work was started by Aman Mokhade (59) and Dhruv Shorey (40), while Karun Nair contributed a helpful 38. However, Vidarbha continued to lose wickets as well, falling to 161/5.
In their subsequent attempt to correct the derailment, Rathod and Wadkar used a cautious strategy, scoring at strike rates of less than sixty. They contributed to their team’s victory over 300 runs by remaining together for more than 45 overs during their 158-run connection. The Vidarbha captain was removed by Anubhav Agarwal, ending the partnership, but after a strong recovery, the hosts will rely on Rathod to assist them set a lofty goal for Madhya Pradesh.
Brief scores: Madhya Pradesh 252 is trailed by 261 runs by Vidarbha 170 & 343/6 (Yash Rathod 97*, Akshay Wadkar 77; Anubhav Agarwal 2-68).
