A combination of domination and grit has been a hallmark of Mumbai’s batting legacy. Both the aspects were on display in plenty all through Day 4 of its Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Baroda.
Thanks to a near-clinical batting display – dominated by Prithvi Shaw’s (87, 93b, 10x4, 2x6) aggression and Hardik Tamore’s perfect anchor (114, 233b, 10x4) en route a second First-Class hundred and a stubborn resistance by the lower order, especially all-rounders Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian – meant Mumbai ended the penultimate day’s play at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Indoor Academy at 379 for nine in its second essay.
With a mammoth lead of 415 runs and the last wicket pair of Kotian and Tushar Deshpande batting at ease, a maximum of 90 overs’ play on the last day is highly unlikely to put Mumbai in a spot of bother and a semifinal against Tamil Nadu at the same venue is all but sealed.
At the start of play, the onus was on Mumbai to bat the day out and virtually the seal the deal for itself. Tamore, promoted to open, with Shaw having cut his nail on Sunday, continued his toil even though night-watchman Mohit Avasthi perished early.
While Tamore continued his ‘blockathon’ from the first innings, Musheer Khan adopted an aggressive approach before falling to veteran Bhargav Bhatt, who earned his career-best match haul of 14 wickets.
In came Shaw, who started dominating the proceedings right from the word go. The duo’s 124-run association off 153 balls – with Shaw smashing 87 off 93 – helped Mumbai run away with the advantage.
Soon after Lunch, Shaw attempted an audacious swat against the turn off Bhatt and the swirling top-edge was caught by Vishnu Solanki, running back a few yards from cover.
Even though Bhatt continued to pick wickets, the scoring rate never tumbled and Mulani’s spirited fifty, followed by Kotian’s class, meant Mumbai not only stretched its innings into the last day but also nearly took the game away from Baroda.
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