Ajinkya Rahane-led Mumbai beat Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore-led Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs to reach the Ranji Trophy final for the 48th time. On Day 3, no Tamil Nadu batter from Baba Indrajith put up a fight as they were bowled out for 162. After new-ball bowlers Shardul Thakur and Mohit Avasthi got rid of the top order, Shams Mulani's four-fer helped Mumbai register a comprehensive win.
Kotian misses century
On Day 3, Mumbai's in-form lower-order batter Tanush Kotian remained unbeaten for 89 off 126 balls including 12 boundaries. Washington Sundar wrapped up Mumbai's innings with the wicket of Tushar Deshpande who scored 26 runs from 30 balls. Mumbai took a 232-run lead despite getting reduced to 106/7 as Thakur scored his maiden hundred. Tamil Nadu skipper Kishore starred with a six-wicket haul.
Thakur gets the new ball swinging
After letting his bat do the talking, Thakur struck twice with the new ball. First, he dismissed Narayan Jagadeesan lbw for a seven-ball duck. Then he managed to get an outside edge off Sai Sudharsan's bat which landed in wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore; 's gloves. Sundar was promoted up the order to no.3 but it did not turn out to be a masterstroke. Avasthi dismissed him for a single-digit score as Tamil Nadu found themselves struggling at 10/3 in just eight overs. No more wickets fell in the first session.
Indrajith’s half-century in vain
Indrajith and Pradosh Ranjan Paul shared a 73-run partnership. Kotian got the breakthrough with the wicket of Paul. He scored 25 runs from 54 balls. Vijay Shankar came in to bat. Just when a partnership was building between the two, Avasthi came back into the attack and dismissed Indrajith. He scored 70 runs from 105 balls including nine fours. Skipper Kishore decided to counter-attack as he hit a six and two fours in his 20-ball 21 before getting bowled by Kotian.
Mulani wraps up the tail
Mulani got into the act and Tamil Nadu tailenders could not last long against him. Shankar ran out of partners and in the end, he decided to attack. The all-rounder was the last to fall. He got stumped after scoring 24 runs from 74 balls. Tamil Nadu were bowled out for 162 as they lost the match by an innings and 70 runs.
Kishore’s strange decision
Earlier, Kishore won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision which surprised many. Tamil Nadu's top-order faltered and they lost half the side for 42. Shakar and Sundar's forties helped Tamil Nadu post 146 on the board before getting bowled out.
Will Mumbai add another trophy to the cabinet?
Mumbai will now face either Vidarbha or Madhya Pradesh in the final of the Ranji Trophy starting March 10. Mumbai already have 41 Ranji title wins to their name.
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