Mumbai’s Shardul Thakur celebrates after scoring century on day 2 of the Ranji Trophy semifinals in opposition to Tamil Nadu in Mumbai on March 3, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini
“I won the bet.” Shardul Thakur advised R. Sai Kishore whereas exchanging a high-five minutes after the finish of the second day’s play of the Ranji Trophy semifinal on Sunday.
While Sai Kishore reminded him that it was just for T20s, each had a hearty giggle over it. The guess, one was later knowledgeable, was that Shardul will “smash him when I face him in a match.”
On a day that was highlighted by the particular person brilliance of each the all-rounders, Shardul overshadowed Sai Kishore at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy floor, with Mumbai’s decrease order taking the recreation away from the opposition.
Sai Kishore on tune
Shardul Thakur’s (109, 105b, 13×4, 4×6) maiden First-Class hundred and his partnerships with Hardik Tamore (105 for the eighth wicket) and Tanush Kotian (79 for the ninth) put Mumbai in command after R. Sai Kishore (six for 97) had Mumbai in bother.
Kotian (74) and Tushar Deshpande’s unbroken 63-run stand rubbed salt into Tamil Nadu’s wounds as Mumbai was 353 for 9 at stumps, a bonus of 207 runs.
The star of the day was Shardul. He bailed Mumbai out of bother with a fearless but masterful knock. When he took guard, with simply 13 minutes remaining for lunch, Sai Kishore was on the rampage, having picked up 4 wickets in the morning to shatter one other document. Mumbai, at that stage, was 106 for seven and in peril of conceding the lead.
Shardul didn’t waste time in exhibiting his intent, hitting him for 2 fours. Even after lunch, he continued to go after the TN captain whose marathon spell was a deal with to observe. While no different Mumbai batter was comfy in opposition to him, Shardul scored 44 runs off the 37 balls he confronted the lanky spinner.
He was dismissed after he reached his landmark with a one-bounced 4 as Jagadeesan — who had effected a sensible stumping in the morning — took a lunging catch.
While the final two classes belonged to Mumbai, Tamil Nadu dominated the morning session. Sai Kishore bowled unchanged from the membership home finish. Despite an overcast morning, he used the dampness to his benefit and broke the again of Mumbai’s middle-order.
Barring Shreyas Iyer — who performed on to Sandeep Warrier early on in his innings — Sai Kishore earned all of Mumbai’s 5 wickets.
The scores:
Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 146.
Mumbai — 1st innings: Prithvi Shaw c Indrajith b Kuldeep Sen 5, Bhupen Lalwani lbw b Sai Kishore 15, Musheer Khan st Jagadeesan b Sai Kishore 55, Mohit Avasthi st Jagadeesan b Sai Kishore 2, Ajinkya Rahane c Indrajith b Sai Kishore 19, Shreyas Iyer b Warrier 3, Hardik Tamore c Washington b Sai Kishore 35, Shams Mulani b Sai Kishore 0, Shardul Thakur c Jagadeesan b Kuldeep Sen 109, Tanush Kotian (batting) 74, Tushar Deshpande (batting) 17; Extras (lb-12, nb-2, pen-5): 19; Total (for 9 wkts. in 100 overs): 353.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-40, 3-48, 4-91, 5-96, 6-107, 7-106, 8-211, 9-290.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Warrier 18-0-66-1, Kuldeep Sen 15-0-65-2, Mohammed 8-2-21-0, Sai Kishore 37-9-97-6, Ajith Ram 14-1-68-0, Washington 7-0-19-0, Pradosh 1-1-0-0.
