Mumbai entered the finals with a resounding win by an inning and 70 runs against Tamil Nadu on the 3rd day of semi-finals played at Sharad Pawar Academy BAK, Mumbai on 4th March 2024. Tushar Deshpande and Tanush Kotian added some more valuable runs in the morning. Mumbai were bowled for 378 with a lead of 232 runs. Kotian remained not out on 89.
It was an ideal start for Mumbai in the second innings as Shardul Thakur got two early wickets of Narayan Jagadeesan and Sai Sudharsan to leave Tamil Nadu in trouble. Mohit Awasthi got rid of Washington Sundar to leave Tamil Nadu in deep trouble at 10 for 3. Baba Indrajith and Pradosh Ranjan Paul steadied the ship as Tamil Nadu went into lunch break at 57 for 3. After the lunch interval, both TN batters looked at ease before Kotian struck to dismiss Ranjan Paul. Indrajith and Paul added 73 runs for the 4th wicket.
Vijay Shankar joined in with Baba Indrajith keeping the scoreboard ticking. Indrajith looked composed with a well-made 50 and looked good before Awasthi struck to dismiss Indrajith. Baba Indrajith and Shankar added 38 runs for the 5th wicket. TN captain Sai Kishore provided some support along with Vijay Shankar. Kotian got rid of Sai Kishore to end 32 partnership for the 6th wicket. Mumbai bowlers kept picking wickets at regular intervals and bowled out Tamil Nadu for just 162.
๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ! ๐
A superb performance from the @ajinkyarahane88-led side as they beat Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs in Semi Final 2 of the @IDFCFIRSTBank #RanjiTrophy ๐#MUMvTN | #SF2
Scorecard โถ๏ธ https://t.co/9tosMLk9TT pic.twitter.com/bOikVOmBn1
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 4, 2024
It was a superb performance by Mumbai bowlers as they never allowed big partnerships and kept chipping wickets. Shams Mulani was the pick of bowlers for Mumbai with 4 for 53, while Shardul Thakur, Awasthi, and Kotian grabbed 2 wickets each. Mumbai showed their domination right from the word go skittling out Tamil Nadu for 146 on the opening day.
Despite struggling at 106 for 7, Shardul Thakur scored 109 and important contributions from the lower order helped Mumbai post 378 in the first innings. For his all-around contributions, Shardul Thakur was named the player of the match. He took 2 wickets in the first innings while taking 2 wickets in 2nd innings also. With Mumbai struggling, Thakur scored his maiden first-class century.
With this victory, Mumbai qualified for the Ranji Trophy finals and would face the winner of Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh to be played from 10th March onwards.
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