Ajinkya Rahane & Co are simply 5 wickets away from their forty second Ranji Trophy triumph, whereas Vidarbha want one other 290 runs on the fifth and last day on Thursday to clinch what might be their third nationwide championship title. Chasing 538 for victory, Vidarbha have been 248-5 at stumps on Day Four on the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
Vidarbha’s opening pair of Atharva Taide (32, 4×4) and Dhruv Shorey (28, 4×4) resumed their innings with the scoreboard studying 10. A classy off-drive for 4 off Mumbai pacer Tushar Deshpande noticed Taide deliver up Vidarbha’s 50 on the board within the twelfth over. However, he departed shortly, trapped leg earlier than by left-arm spinner and birthday boy Shams Mulani (1-56) whereas trying a sweep. Tanush Kotian (2-56) then cleaned bowled Shorey with a pointy off-spinning supply.
Also Read: Ranji Trophy finals: Vidarbha wants 290 runs in 90 overs to defeat Mumbai
Musheer strikes
In a spot of hassle at 64-2, Vidarbha’s No. 3 Aman Mokhade (32, 2×4) and Test batsman Karun Nair (74, 3×4) showcased superb temperament to counter the spinners earlier than left-arm spinner Musheer Khan (38-2) ultimately broke their 54-run stand, dismissing Mokhade LBW.
Nair was fortunate to outlive when he was dropped on 4 by wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore off Musheer with Vidarbha’s rating studying 70-2. He capitalised on the additional life, hanging on for a whopping 287 minutes and 220 balls, as he stitched a affected person 90-run fifth-wicket stand with skipper Akshay Wadkar (56 not out, 6×4, 1×6). However, with simply half-an-hour’s play remaining within the day, Musheer drew an edge from Nair and Tamore made no mistake behind the stumps.
Positive intent
Meanwhile, Wadkar continued to play with a optimistic intent, cover-driving and comfortably pulling the quick stuff as he took the workforce previous the 200-run mark. Mumbai skipper Rahane took the second new ball with 11 overs remaining, and all three pacers—Shardul Thakur, Dhawal Kulkarni and Deshpande—started bowling quick. Wadkar and spin bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey (11 not out, 1×4, 1×6) although fought again properly to stay unbeaten. After pulling a Deshpande bouncer for 4, Wadkar used his tempo and guided one other quick one for a six with an uppercut to achieve his eighth half-century of the season.
Meanwhile, Mumbai’s star batsman Shreyas Iyer didn’t take the sphere on Day Four on account of again ache.
Source: www.mid-day.com
