Published: Nov 30, 2013, 07:18 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 30, 2013, 08:06 PM (IST)
Mumbai: Nov 30, 2013
Reigning champions Mumbai stood poised for a thumping victory over minnows Vidarbha after reducing them to 177 for eight, in a chase of 530, on day three of their Group A Ranji Trophy.
The hosts compiled a huge 381 for four declared in their second innings, riding on centuries from opener Aditya Tare (172 in 190 balls with 16 fours and 6 sixes) and South Africa-bound one down batsman Ajinkya Rahane (133 in 254 balls with 14 fours and one six), to set Vidarbha an improbable target of 530 for an outright win.
The visitors, who conceded a lead of 148 runs in the first innings, produced another totally inept batting display to face a massive defeat.
Barring a stroke-filled 69 from Shalabh Shrivastava, who hit 15 boundaries in his 91-ball innings before handing a tame catch to mid-on fielder and Mumbai skipper Zaheer Khan, the others caved in without a fight.
Zaheer, getting ready for the tough two-Test battle against South Africa next month, uprooted the middle stump of left-handed opener Faiz Fazal for a duck in the first over of the Vidarbha second essay to start the hosts’ victory bid.
Vidarbha were later reduced to 33 for 3 when Akbar Khan and Shardul Thakur sent back Amol Ubarhande and Ranjit Paradkar cheaply before Shrivastava and Hemang Badani (19 in 69 minutes) stemmed the rot.
Once that fourth wicket partnership worth 73 in 89 balls was snapped by Thakur, who dismissed the left handed Badani, another procession of batsmen followed to leave the visitors with the mighty task of scoring 353 more runs for victory on the final day tomorrow.
The two Khans picked up a wicket apiece, Thakur got two while left-arm spinner Akshay Dabholkar also picked up two which included that of top scorer Shrivastava.
Rahane after the day’s play ended dismissed suggestions that the Vidarbha attack was not strong enough to test the hosts’ batting mettle in their ongoing Group A Ranji Trophy match.
“I won’t say that their attack was not good. Umesh (Yadav) is an experienced bowler. They had Shrikant (Wagh) and other bowlers. A bowler needs just one ball to get the wicket, so batsmen have to concentrate on every delivery,” said Rahane, who hit 133 in Mumbai’s second innings tally of 381 for four declared and also added 260 with opener Aditya Tare (172).
“I was looking to get set and spend a lot of time at the wicket, which will also be a good batting practice for me. When they spread the field, then it was a bit difficult and I was constantly telling myself that this is the time to show focus, to show some hunger, and that is what I was thinking,” he added.
Rahane, who has been included in the ODI as well as Test team to South Africa, considered his innings as a confidence booster ahead of the tough tour.
“It was a very crucial knock. When you score a hundred, every hundred is special and this hundred is also as special as the others. It was also important from the team’s point of view as we wanted to win the match outright. I will take a lot of confidence from this innings,” he said.
“Before going to South Africa, this game was crucial for me in terms of match practice. So I was just focussing on getting my rhythm back and give my 100 per cent for the team.
“In the first innings too, I was looking to spend time at the crease, but getting out is not in your hands. You should have the right attitude and right intention and that is what matters. Scoring a hundred in the second innings is as special as scoring a hundred in the first innings. I am happy the way I am batting and the way our team is playing,” Rahane added.
At the end of day 3, Mumbai were poised to record a huge victory after setting Vidarbha an imposing target of 530 and then reducing the visitors to 177 for 8 in the second innings.
Brief scores:
Mumbai 261 and 381 for 4 decl. (A Tare 172, A Rahane 133, S Yadav 49*; R Jangid 2 for 88) lead Vidarbha 113 and 177 for 8 (S Shrivastava 69, Shrikant Wagh 34*; S Thakur 2 for 46, A Dabholkar 2 for 21) by 353 runs.
