Mumbai, who needed 212 runs to beat Tamil Nadu in the last session of the final day, managed to draw to reach 137-3 when bad light stopped the game.
Mumbai played safe against Tamil Nadu in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match here at Brabourne Stadium on Friday to earn three points.
In the final session of the final day, Mumbai needed 212 runs to beat Tamil Nadu. With only 32 overs to go and the ball spinning a bit, it was a tricky affair. However, Mumbai achieved a draw, finishing 137-3 when the game was stopped due to insufficient light. Mumbai had a tough job after Pradsh Ranjan Paul (169 balls off 308) and Vijay Shankar’s 103 (174b, 13×4) gave Tamil Nadu a huge lead with 548 in the second inning.
Openers Yashas Vijayswal (60 to 66) and Prithvichow showed intent and in four overs he scored 30 runs.
Still, Jaiswal and Armaan Jaffer kept their run rate around his 6 overs to keep the chase. Jaiswal hit his sixth and a few limits, but the talented Jaffer cut and drove before being blocked by his Kishore shot.
With two wickets down to his 94 in 15.3 overs, Mumbai changed strategy and his captain Ajinkya Rahane said midway through the game he chatted with Jaiswal and played on the merits of delivery rather than being aggressive. asked to do. However, Lahane’s stay was punctuated by a cunning blunder by Jagadeesan in front of Psy Kishore after the batsman played just 18 Delever.
As the day progressed, Mumbai marched towards a draw, picking up three vital points ahead of next week’s away game against Assam. Jaiswal overcame cramps for an unbeaten run of 66 and Sarfaraz Khan held on before the referee pulled the curtain on the match due to insufficient light.
Previously, Tamil Nadu sluggers Pradsh Paul and Vijay Shankar dominated the match’s morning session. Paul continued his dream run, posting his score above 150 for the first time in top-flight cricket, but it was an outing to remember for the comeback Vijay. Shoulder surgery after last year’s IPL put him out of action for seven months, but the veteran activist excelled when it mattered.
Starting his day 4-for-380, Paul and Vijay kept ticking the scoreboard and taking their time adjusting before hitting the limit. When the surface was level, Mumbai missed an opportunity when Vijay, who batted for 61, was dropped by Mohit Abasti as third man. A dejected Abasti had to be consoled by his teammates. However, Mumbai failed to advance as the guests appeared determined. As Vijay himself admitted, it was a “bad shot” at that point in the game, from which he learned a lesson and played a risk-free shot to reach his sixth top-flight century.
But Tanush Kotian (4-129) broke the partnership shortly after lunch when Pole was caught by Avasti in cover. A few minutes later Vijay also left after being caught leg first by the same bowler.
Tamil Nadu’s attempts to rebuild the innings were fruitless, with Shams Mulani taking back-to-back wickets and dismissing Sai Kishore and Aswin Crist after Shahrukh Khan and Sai Kishore managed just 36 runs. And that has dampened Tamil Nadu’s hopes of extending its lead.