Ranji Trophy: Rathod shines as Vidarbha thrash Mumbai in semi-final
What's the story
Vidarbha thrashed Mumbai by 80 runs in the second semi-final of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy.
The match was played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
Chasing a daunting target of 406 runs for victory, Mumbai were folded for 325 runs in the final session of Day 5.
Vidarbha's dominant display was largely due to Yash Rathod's brilliant 151 in the third innings.
Here are the key stats.
Summary
Vidarbha earn massive first-innings lead
Vidarbha managed to score 383/10 while batting first in the game. Dhruv Shorey (74), Yash Rathod (54), and Danish Malewar (79) were the top contributors.
Shivam Dube claimed a fifer. In response, Mumbai's middle-order witnessed a dramatic collapse as the score went from 113/2 to 118/6.
The team was eventually folded for 270 thanks to Akash Anand's 106. Parth Rekhade dismissed four batters as Vidarbha earned a 113-run first innings lead.
Match-turning innings
Rathod's century rescues Vidarbha from early collapse
Rathod was Vidarbha's savior in their third innings, scoring a phenomenal 151 runs off 252 balls.
His arrival at the crease was the need of the hour as Vidarbha were reeling at 56/4.
Captain and wicket-keeper Akshay Wadkar also played a vital role with a gritty half-century of 52 runs.
Their 158-run partnership for the fifth wicket took Vidarbha to 292/10 in their second outing.
Early setbacks
Mumbai's run chase stumbles with early wickets
Mumbai's run chase started on a shaky note as they lost three early wickets on Day 4.
Harsh Dubey, the highest wicket-taker of this season, took four wickets.
Though Shardul Thakur scored a fine 66 lower down the order, he did not get much support from the other end.
The team was hence folded for 325 and lost by 80 runs.
Rathod
Rathod's impressive season continues
Rathod scripted twin 50-plus scores in the semi-final as he backed his 113-ball 54 from the first innings with a 252-ball 151.
With this, he became, the first batter to accomplish five tons in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 (50s: 3).
He has, overall, raced to 933 runs across nine games at 58.31 in the season.
Overall, this was Rathod's sixth First-Class ton (50s: 5). He has raced to 1,478 runs across 16 games at a brilliant average of 47-plus.
Dube
Dube shines with fifer
Dube made the red ball talk and claimed a fifer in the first innings. The pacer finished with 5/49 across 11.5 overs.
With this spell, Dube has raced to 58 wickets from 25 First-Class matches at 22-plus. This was his third fifer.
In the ongoing season, Dube had managed just one wicket in his preceding three outings.
He went wicket-less in his second outing with the ball in the semi-final as well.
Mulani
16th five-wicket haul for Mulani
Shams Mulani picked six wickets for 85 runs in the 3rd innings.
With eight wickets in this match, Mulani has raced to 234 scalps from 50 First-Class matches.
This was his 16th five-wicket haul in FC cricket. He also owns 12 four-fers.
In the Ranji 2024/25 campaign, Mulani bagged 44 scalps from 9 matches at 23.52, as per ESPNcricinfo (5W: 3).
Thakur
Thakur surpasses 500 runs in Ranji 2024/25
Thakur smashed a breezy 37 from 41 balls in Mumbai's first innings and backed this knock with a fine fifty (66 from 124 balls).
These knocks took him to 2,492 runs in First-Class cricket at an average close to 21.
This was his 16th fifty in FC cricket (100s: 2).
In the ongoing Ranji season, he owns 505 runs at 42.08 from nine matches. This was his 4th fifty (100s: 1).
Dubey
Dubey floors Mumbai with fifer
Harsh Dubey floored Mumbai in the final innings, claiming 5/127 from 41.5 overs.
With his seven wickets in the contest, Dubey has raced to 66 wickets in Ranji 2024/25 from nine matches at 16.42.
This was his 7th five-wicket haul this season. He also owns three four-fers.
He is the only bowler with 50-plus scalps this season.
In 17 First-Class matches, he owns 94 scalps at 19.69. This was his 8th five-wicket haul.