Ranji Trophy 2023-24: Bowlers give Mumbai an higher hand over Andhra

On a placid pitch that has had nothing to supply the bowlers, Mumbai’s bowlers gave their group an higher hand – primarily because of their batting efforts – halfway by way of its Ranji Trophy Group B tie in opposition to Andhra.

Allrounders Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian noticed off the early moisture earlier than falling in Nithish Kumar Reddy’s successive overs, which accomplished a deserving five-wicket haul for the pacer. On the cusp of the primary hour mark, when Andhra had Mumbai at 316 for eight, its batters would have began visualising strokes.

But Mohit Avasthi (53, 130b, 172m, 9×4, 1×6) and Dhawal Kulkarni annoyed a drained Andhra bowling lot with a 98-run affiliation that ensured Mumbai bat for a majority of the second day. After serving to Mumbai end its first essay at 395, the bowlers got here to get together within the final session, leaving Andhra in a spot of hassle at stumps.

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Left-arm pacer Royston Dias broke the opening partnership by getting opener C.R. Gnaneshwar caught behind. Mulani’s left-arm spin then did the trick twice, together with the important thing wicket of Hanuma Vihari as Andhra ended Day Two at 98 for 3. The onus might be on opener D.B. Prashant Kumar, who notched up a nonchalant fifty, and captain Ricky Bhui to bail Andhra out of bother on the third day.

The day, nevertheless, belonged to Avasthi and Kotian (54, 106b, 8×4) who starred with the bat. On a boring day that noticed solely 212 runs having been scored, the duo put Mumbai into ascendancy. While Kotian continued along with his in a single day breezy knock earlier than perishing within the slip cordon moments after his 91-run stand with Mulani had been damaged.

Avasthi together with veteran Kulkarni then took the fizz out of a hapless Andhra assault by blocking the ball for 168 minutes. With Okay.V. Sasikanth having been dominated out of the sport, Andhra was a bowler brief. And underneath a scorching run, the bowlers needed to anticipate a mistake.

Unlike Mumbai’s prime order, the duo didn’t play a false brief. Avasthi additionally took a few blows on his bowling palm however stood his floor to grind his option to a fifty.