Ranji Trophy 2023-24 Quarterfinals: Mumbai extends lead previous 400 towards Baroda on penultimate day, Tamore hits century

A mix of domination and grit has been a trademark of Mumbai’s batting legacy. Both the points had been on show in lots all by Day Four of its Ranji Trophy quarterfinal towards Baroda.

Thanks to a near-clinical batting show – dominated by Prithvi Shaw’s (87, 93b, 10×4, 2×6) aggression and Hardik Tamore’s good anchor (114, 233b, 10×4) en route a second First Class hundred and a cussed resistance by the decrease order, particularly allrounders Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian – meant Mumbai ended the penultimate day’s play on the Sharad Pawar Cricket Indoor Academy at 379 for 9 in its second essay.

With a mammoth lead of 415 runs, the final wicket pair of Kotian and Tushar Deshpande batting comfy, a most of 90 overs’ play on the final day is extremely unlikely to place Mumbai in a spot of trouble and a semifinal towards Tamil Nadu on the identical venue is all however sealed.

At the beginning of play, the onus was on Mumbai to bat the time out and just about the seal the deal for itself. Tamore, promoted to open with Shaw having reduce his nail on Sunday, continued his toil despite the fact that night-watchman Mohit Avasthi perished early. While Tamore continued his blockathon from the primary innings, Musheer Khan adopted an aggressive method earlier than falling to veteran Bhargav Bhatt, who earned his career-best match haul of 14 wickets.

In got here Shaw who began dominating the proceedings proper from the phrase go. The duo’s 124-run affiliation off 153 balls – with Shaw smashing 87 off 93 – helped Mumbai run away with the benefit. Soon after lunch, Shaw tried an audacious swat towards the flip off Bhargav and the swirling top-edge was caught by Vishnu Solanki, working again just a few yards from covers.

Even although Bhatt continued to choose wickets, the scoring fee by no means tumbled and Mulani’s spirited fifty adopted by Kotian’s class meant Mumbai not solely stretched its innings into the final day but additionally almost took the sport away from Baroda.