Ranji Trophy: Mumbai rides on Bista blitz against Saurashtra
Mumbai Opener Jay Bista (127) and Vikrant Auti (57) put on a 174-run partnership which set the tone for Mumbai on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy match against Saurashtra.
Published : Dec 22, 2018 18:38 IST
Two vital partnerships — including the first big opening stand of the season — struck off the afternoon collapse as Mumbai was placed in a commanding position against table-topper Saurashtra on the opening day of its must-win Ranji Trophy Elite Group A game.
READ| Ranji Trophy 2018-19: Round 7, Day 1 Highlights The right-left batting combination of Jay Bista (127, 150b, 21x4) and Vikrant Auti (57, 153b, 7x4) put on 174 for the first wicket after Mumbai was inserted by Jaydev Unadkat at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite the middle-order caving in yet again, with Mumbai losing five for 58, captain Siddhesh Lad (84 n.o., 115b, 12x4, 1x6) found an ally in all-rounder Shivam Dube (34, 68b, 3x4) as the host finished the first day at 334 for five.
Fightback However, Bista’s quest to get on top of the spinner resulted in his downfall. He stepped out, tried to tonk him over the in-field but skied one to Aarpit Vasavada at extra cover. Auti, then, was dismissed in a near-identical manner from last week, when his attempt to leave the ball off Unadkat resulted in a nick to the ’keeper. Soon after, Shreyas Iyer (cut Jadeja to backward point), Shubham Ranjane (inside-edged a drive off Sakariya) and Aditya Tare (chased a wide one off Jadeja for a nick to the slips) were dismissed for single-digit scores to leave Mumbai in trouble at 232 for five. Lad then found a partner in Dube as the duo saw off the last session without damage. While they survived the tricky pitch, the tiring Saurashtra lot offered freebies in plenty and the duo, especially Lad, didn’t miss out on converting them into boundaries.