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Mumbai continued their dominance against Vidarbha on Day 2 of the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023-2025 final at Mumbai's Wankhede stadium on March 11, Monday. Riding on Ajinkya Rahane and Musheer Khan's batting exploits, the 41-time Ranji Trophy champions edged closer to breaking their seven-year title drought, as they ended the Day 2's play at 141/2, with a commanding lead of 260 in reply to Vidarbha's first innings' lowly total of 105.
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Rahane-Musheer's impressive partnership
Under the leadership of captain Rahane, Mumbai navigated through a precarious position of 34/2. Rahane, who remained unscathed at 58, partnered with the young Sarfaraz Khan's younger brother Musheer to forge an unbroken 107-run partnership off 232 deliveries. Mumbai ended the day at 141 for 2 in 50 overs, with Rahane and Musheer holding off Vidarbha's advance after an early stumble to 34 for 2. Yash Thakur and Harsh Dubey each took a wicket, dismissing Mumbai openers Prithvi Shaw (11) and Bhupen Lalwani (18) early in the day.
Mumbai's bowlers shine
Mumbai's bowling unit excelled, dismissing the remaining seven Vidarbha batters cheaply. Vidarbha was all out for 105, granting Mumbai a first-innings lead of 119 runs. Dhawal Kulkarni, in his final Ranji Trophy appearance, claimed three wickets, while spinners Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian also took three wickets each, dismantling Vidarbha's batting order. Karun Nair, for Vidarbha, was dismissed for a duck, and Yash Rathod was the top scorer with 27 runs. Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar managed only 5 runs, giving Mumbai a significant advantage. Rahane and Musheer's resilient stand was a highlight, as the seasoned captain, supported by the young player, faced down Vidarbha's bowling attack, which sought to break through on Monday afternoon. Veteran bowler Umesh Yadav exerted pressure in his opening spell, challenging both Rahane and Musheer with swing.
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Despite facing difficulties, Rahane and Musheer persisted, leading Mumbai to safety. Their unbeaten partnership earned a standing ovation from the Wankhede Stadium crowd, with cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar among those applauding their efforts. Rahane notched up his second half-century of the season, while Musheer continued his impressive form, making a significant impact in the final with a hard-fought fifty.
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