It’s possible that the location has changed. The opposition did as well. However, Mumbai’s batting pattern persisted when they faced Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final. On a day when bowlers dominated, the lower order, led by the fearless Shardul Thakur, gave respectability to the total before the top six collapsed once more.
On the first day of play at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai would have found it difficult to score 224 if it weren’t for Shardul’s counterattacking 75. He and Dhawal Kulkarni, who replaced the injured Mohit Avasthi in his most recent Mumbai game, left Vidarbha reeling at 31 for three at stumps.
The Mumbai essay featured two incredible batting stretches, one on either side of the bowling juggernaut. As the Sunday crowd grew in expectation of a run-fest, Prithvi Shaw’s signature cover drives off Umesh Yadav and Bhupen Lalwani’s flicks through midwicket were visual feasts.
The first-change pacer, Yash Thakur, made an impact by jagging one past Lalwani and forcing him to edge towards captain Akshay Wadkar.
Following the dismissal, Mumbai collapsed to 111 for six from 81 for no loss as Vidarbha picked six wickets for thirty.
After getting rid of Prithvi Shaw, Musheer Khan, and captain Ajinkya Rahane, Harsh Dubey, the left-arm spinner who was brought in instead of Akshay Wakhare, struck gold over an extended period of time.
Umesh Yadav discovered Shreyas Iyer caught behind in a no-man’s-land at the crease. Shardul entered and confronted the bowlers.
Mumbai reached 200 runs thanks to Tushar Deshpande hanging around and their 42-run partnership.
The results:
Mumbai — First innings: Prithvi Shaw b. Dubey 46 (63b, 5×4), Bhupen Lalwani c. Wadkar b. Thakur 37 (64b, 4×4), Ajinkya Rahane c. Shorey b. Dubey 7 (35b), Shreyas Iyer c. Karun b. Umesh 7 (15b, 1×4), Hardik Tamore c. Wadkar b. Thakare 5 (41b), Shams Mulani lbw b. Thakur 13 (37b, 1×6), Shardul Thakur c. Dubey b. Umesh 75 (69b, 8×4, 3×6), Tanush Kotian c. Wadkar b. Thakur 8 (12b, 1×4) Dhawal Kulkarni (not out) 0 (7b), Tushar Deshpande run out 14 (34b, 2×4); extras (b-2, lb-2, nb-2): 6; total (in 64.3 overs): 224.
