Three-wicket over against Mumbai and Kerala’s slow progress highlight Ranji semis

Shivam Dube in action for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy Semi-final against Vidarbha
Shivam Dube in action for Mumbai in Ranji Trophy Semi-final against Vidarbha (PC: MCA / X)

The pendulum swung wildly as far as the behaviour of the matches was concerned on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. It was topsy-turvy between Vidarbha and Mumbai in Nagpur, where a three-wicket over from Parth Rekhade sparked madness on a day that claimed 12 wickets. In Ahmedabad against Gujarat, Kerala were slow yet steadfast in their attempt to bat big and deep.

Vidarbha vs Mumbai, VCA Stadium, Nagpur

The 42-time champions did well to terminate Vidarbha for 383 from 308/5 overnight. Shivam Dube came up with his third first-class five-wicket haul and did that in the role of the sixth bowler. The home team, which lost to Mumbai in last year’s final, must have been ruing that a number of their batters got starts and failed to convert.

Akash Anand and Ajinkya Rahane appeared set to make Vidarbha pay when lightning struck. Playing his second game at this level and having made 23 after being promoted to No. 3, left-arm spinner Rekhade got Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube in contrasting ways in five balls. It was the ninth over of his spell and 41st of the innings. From 113/2, the total became 113/5 and Shams Mulani’s dismissal in the next over made it 118/6.

Shardul Thakur tried his own methods to hit out of trouble, but fell for 37 after adding 60 for the seventh wicket. Tanush Kotian and opener Anand in the middle means Mumbai still have hopes of getting closer to the Vidarbha total. Can the lower order bail them out all the time, when the top and middle crumble every now and then?

Brief scores: Vidarbha 383 (Danish Malewar 79, Dhruv Shorey 74, Yash Rathod 54, Shivam Dube 5/49) vs Mumbai 188/7 (Akash Anand 67 batting, Parth Rekhade 3/16).

Gujarat vs Kerala, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

Kerala made their strategy clear. They want to score as many runs as possible in the first innings and take it from there. In a continuation of the theme for the second day, the visiting side batted out 88 overs, added 212 runs and lost just three more wickets. Mohammed Azharuddeen remained unconquered through the day and his unbeaten 149 was the backbone of Kerala’s 418/7.

Unlike on Day 1 when the Kerala batters got out after getting starts, there was a marked difference. Despite losing skipper Sachin Baby on the second ball of the day, Azharuddeen and Salman Nizar kept Gujarat waiting for nearly 61 overs for the next wicket. The progress was painstaking and yet the 149-run sixth-wicket stand was invaluable.

Kerala sent in an 18-year-old debutant at No 8. Ahammed Imran is a specialist batter who never bowled in his four List-A appearances. The left-handed batter drove the first ball through the covers for a four and made 22 off 66 balls. Azharuddeen led the way with a marathon innings which has lasted 303 balls so far. His driving through the covers off pace and spin was exquisite.

Brief scores: Kerala 418/7 (Mohammed Azharuddeen 149 batting, Sachin Baby 69, Salman Nizar 52, Arzan Nagaswalla 3/64) vs Gujarat.

The post Three-wicket over against Mumbai and Kerala’s slow progress highlight Ranji semis appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports.



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