Shams Mulani starred in West Zone's convincing semi-final win over Central Zone with a fifer in the final innings. The highest wicket-taker of Ranji Trophy 2022 made life tough for Central Zone batters as they attempted the uphill task of chasing down 501 on a Day 4 pitch. In the end, Karan Sharma-led Central Zone lost the match by a huge margin of 279 runs at SNR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore.
On Day 4, Chintan Gaja, whose wild throw led to Venkatesh Iyer getting concussed, struck first with the wicket of opener Yash Dubey (14). Mulani was introduced early on a pitch that favoured the spinners. The left-arm spinner got the wicket of wicketkeeper-batter Himanshu Mantri.
Kumar Kartikeya and Shubham S Sharma showed some promise with the 66-run partnership for the third wicket but the former got bowled by Atit Sheth. Kartikeya got out after scoring 39 off 60 deliveries. His wicket was followed by a collapse. Shubham (24) lost his wicket to Mulani whereas Priyam Garg was caught in front of the stumps by Gaja. The pacer struck again and got the wicket of skipper Karan (14) to make matters worse for Central Zone. In the 33rd over, they were reduced to 121/6.
Rinku Singh and Ashok Menaria delayed the inevitable for a while. Menaria replaced Venkatesh as concussion substitute. They shared an 88-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Rinku did not curb his natural instinct to attack as he did not want to go out defending on a sinking ship. The southpaw smashed seven fours and two sixes in his 71-ball 65. Eventually, Mulani got his wicket in the 54th over. After Rinku's wicket, the tail did not wag as only 12 runs were added to the score before the match was over. Mulani got two of the tailenders whereas skipper Jaydev Unadkat got one as Central Zone got all out for 221. Menaria remained not out for 32 off 71 deliveries including five boundaries.
Earlier, in West Zone's second innings, Prithvi Shaw's quickfire 142 and half-century from Het Patel (67) helped them post 371 and set a huge target on the board. In the first innings, Central Zone suffered a batting collapse and got all out for 128. West Zone batters could not do much in the first innings and posted 257 despite half-centuries from Prithvi Shaw (60) and Rahul Tripathi (67).
West Zone will now face South Zone in the final at SNR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore starting September 21. In the other semi-final, South Zone beat North Zone by a record-breaking massive margin of 645 runs.
