Parth Rekhade’s triple-strike puts Vidarbha in firm control against Mumbai in Ranji Trophy semis |
NEW DELHI: Left-arm spinner Parth Rekhade turned the game on its head with a stunning three-wicket burst in an over, leaving Mumbai reeling at 188 for 7 in response to Vidarbha’s first-innings total of 383 on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy semifinal in Nagpur on Tuesday.
Trailing by 195 runs at stumps, Mumbai’s title defence was under serious threat as they faced a disciplined Vidarbha bowling attack at the VCA Stadium.
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Opener Akash Anand stood firm with an unbeaten 67, battling at one end, while Tanush Kotian (5*) was the last recognised batter at the crease, trying to salvage Mumbai’s innings.
At one stage, Mumbai appeared steady at 113 for 2, but Rekhade, playing just his second First-Class match, triggered a dramatic collapse. His first breakthrough came in the 41st over when an innocuous delivery saw Ajinkya Rahane (18) drag the ball back onto his stumps.
Two balls later, Suryakumar Yadav (0) fell victim to a sharp catch at silly point by Danish Malewar after a hard-handed defensive prod. A couple of deliveries later, Shivam Dube (0) was dismissed in similar fashion, caught for a two-ball duck as Mumbai crumbled from 113/2 to 113/5 in no time.
The slide continued as Shams Mulani fell leg-before to Harsh Dubey, reducing Mumbai to 118/6. However, Anand and Shardul Thakur attempted a rescue act, stitching together a crucial 60-run partnership.
Thakur, known for his fighting knocks, played a counterattacking 37 off 41 balls, laced with four boundaries and a six. Just as he looked set for a bigger contribution, he fell to a well-directed short ball from Yash Thakur, who had earlier dismissed Siddhesh Lad (35) to break a vital second-wicket stand.
Mumbai had a shaky start to their innings, with opener Ayush Mhatre departing early, caught at cover by Malewar. Lad and Anand then steadied the innings, but Vidarbha’s relentless attack ensured that Mumbai remained under pressure.
Earlier in the day, Vidarbha added 75 runs to their overnight total of 308/5, with Rathod reaching his half-century before falling for 54 off 113 balls, striking seven boundaries. Despite his efforts, Vidarbha could not push beyond 383, but their bowlers ensured they remained in control of the contest.
With Mumbai still trailing significantly and only three wickets in hand, Vidarbha holds the upper hand heading into Day 3.
Brief scores: Vidarbha 383 in 107.5 overs (Dhruv Shorey 74, Danish Malewar 79, Yash Rathod 54; Shivam Dube 5/49, Shams Mulani 2/62) lead Mumbai 188/7 in 59 overs (Akash Anand 67*; Yash Thakur 2/56, Parth Rekhade 3/16) by 195 runs.
