Ranji Trophy 2023-24 quarterfinals: Kotian, Deshpande script record-breaking feat in opposition to Baroda as Mumbai enters semis

With Mumbai having fun with a sizeable lead of 415 runs and the semifinal place all however assured, the final day’s play of its Ranji Trophy quarterfinal in opposition to Baroda was going to be a colorless affair. But Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande – Mumbai’s unbeaten last-wicket pair – had different plans.

The duo – neither of whom may be known as a tailender – hammered centuries to finish Baroda’s spectacular season on a weird observe and shatter a plethora of data en route.

By the time Deshpande mistimed a heave to be caught within the deep, he had tonked 123 (129b, 10×4, 8×6) – the best particular person rating for a No. 11 batter within the historical past of the Ranji Trophy. And the duo’s affiliation of 232 runs off 234 balls was the second-highest last-wicket partnership within the match’s historical past.

As a consequence, Mumbai left Baroda with an insurmountable job of scoring 606 runs off 58 overs. By the time the groups shook palms at Tea, Baroda tallied 121 for 3. Opener Priyanshu Moliya scored a formidable fifty whereas Kotian carried on his confidence from batting to select two wickets, together with Moliya’s, with a classical off-spinner that beat Moliya’s defence to crash into the stumps.

The morning session turned out to be a memorable one for the sparse spectators current on the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy. In a session that fetched 190 runs off 30 overs, neither Kotian nor Deshpande tried slogs. The method wherein Kotian drove the ball was a deal with to observe, whereas Deshpande, the left-handed batter, went after Bhargav Bhatt’s left-arm spin.

Six of Deshpande’s eight sixes – 5 over long-on and one over long-off – got here off Bhatt because the ‘ Kalyan Express’ made a powerful case to not be despatched at No. 11 in a line-up that seldom has a tailender correct.

Kotian was the primary to achieve the landmark, with a single off Bhatt down the wicket, whereas Deshpande joined him within the subsequent over, with a uncommon cross-batted heave off Mahesh Pithiya.

Mumbai will now face Tamil Nadu within the semifinal on the similar venue from Saturday.