Mumbai play it safe,set up semis date with Services
Mumbai: Our batsmen lacked application.They just threw their wickets away, Baroda vice-captain Ambati Rayudu lamented at the end of Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Mumbai,at the Wankhede,on Wednesday.The talented right-handers grief,after top-scoring with 89 not out (151 balls,15x4,2x6),in his teams first innings total of 271,was understandable.After all,the wicket was flat,a factor responsible for Mumbais scores of 645 for 9 declared and 171 for 1.
With nothing at stake and the semis spot against Services (starting Jan 16,venue undecided) sealed,Mumbai refused to enforce the follow on,despite having a first innings lead of 374.At stumps on Day 4,the hosts were ahead by 545 with nine wickets intact.Hiken Shah,after being dropped by Ketul Patel on 17 and by skipper Yusuf Pathan at slip on 54,was unbeaten on 65 (104 balls,6x4,2x6).Giving him company was opener Kaustubh Pawar,batting on 70 (147 balls,6x4,2x6).
Wasim Jaffer,needing 110 runs to overtake Amol Muzumdars run tally of 9105 runs,became the second batsman in Ranji history to cross the 9,000-run mark,before falling lbw to Rayudu for 33.
Wednesday belonged entirely to Rayudu (lucky to survive a dropped catch by Agarkar at mid-wicket off Dabholkar on 33).He displayed exemplary technique against spinners.Twinkletoed footwork and a quick eye were his allies as he struck boundaries over extra cover and mid-on against Mumbai left-arm spinners Vishal Dabholkar and Ankeet Chavan.
His overnight partner,Pinal Shahs patience ran out 51 minutes into Day 4 as a flashy drive off Dabholkar flew to Hiken Shah at second slip and Shah completed a juggling catch.
Rayudu needed to counterattack and he did it with a six off Chavan over long on.But Mumbais highest wicket-taker this season dismissed Gagandeep Singh Natt caught sharply by Pawar at forward short-leg.
It prompted Rayudu to be more adventurous and farm the strike.He did both effortlessly and it prompted the two spinners to bowl a negative over-the-wicket line outside leg-stump.
With over 600 runs on the board and the opposition struggling,these were baffling tactics.
SEMIS LINE-UP (JAN 16-20 )
Mumbai vs Services (Likely venue: Delhi) Punjab vs Saurashtra (Likely venue: Rajkot)
Mumbai: Our batsmen lacked application.They just threw their wickets away, Baroda vice-captain Ambati Rayudu lamented at the end of Day 4 of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Mumbai,at the Wankhede,on Wednesday.The talented right-handers grief,after top-scoring with 89 not out (151 balls,15x4,2x6),in his teams first innings total of 271,was understandable.After all,the wicket was flat,a factor responsible for Mumbais scores of 645 for 9 declared and 171 for 1.
With nothing at stake and the semis spot against Services (starting Jan 16,venue undecided) sealed,Mumbai refused to enforce the follow on,despite having a first innings lead of 374.At stumps on Day 4,the hosts were ahead by 545 with nine wickets intact.Hiken Shah,after being dropped by Ketul Patel on 17 and by skipper Yusuf Pathan at slip on 54,was unbeaten on 65 (104 balls,6x4,2x6).Giving him company was opener Kaustubh Pawar,batting on 70 (147 balls,6x4,2x6).
Wasim Jaffer,needing 110 runs to overtake Amol Muzumdars run tally of 9105 runs,became the second batsman in Ranji history to cross the 9,000-run mark,before falling lbw to Rayudu for 33.
Wednesday belonged entirely to Rayudu (lucky to survive a dropped catch by Agarkar at mid-wicket off Dabholkar on 33).He displayed exemplary technique against spinners.Twinkletoed footwork and a quick eye were his allies as he struck boundaries over extra cover and mid-on against Mumbai left-arm spinners Vishal Dabholkar and Ankeet Chavan.
His overnight partner,Pinal Shahs patience ran out 51 minutes into Day 4 as a flashy drive off Dabholkar flew to Hiken Shah at second slip and Shah completed a juggling catch.
Rayudu needed to counterattack and he did it with a six off Chavan over long on.But Mumbais highest wicket-taker this season dismissed Gagandeep Singh Natt caught sharply by Pawar at forward short-leg.
It prompted Rayudu to be more adventurous and farm the strike.He did both effortlessly and it prompted the two spinners to bowl a negative over-the-wicket line outside leg-stump.
With over 600 runs on the board and the opposition struggling,these were baffling tactics.
SEMIS LINE-UP (JAN 16-20 )
Mumbai vs Services (Likely venue: Delhi) Punjab vs Saurashtra (Likely venue: Rajkot)
Ambati Rayudu (right) was the lone shining light for Baroda on a grim day at the Wankhede,on Wednesday
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