Ranji Trophy: Ankit's ton guides Haryana against Mumbai (Day 2)
What's the story
Haryana's cricket team captain Ankit Kumar shone on the second day of the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals.
He scored a brilliant 136 off 206 balls, taking his team close to Mumbai's first innings score of 315.
He did this on a pitch that is becoming more and more spinner-friendly.
However, his wicket just before stumps has given Mumbai an edge in this closely fought match.
At stumps, Haryana trail by 52 runs. They have scored 263/5.
Game strategy
Mumbai's strategic approach and Haryana's response
Mumbai's captain Ajinkya Rahane had set a packed leg-side field and asked Tanush Kotian to bowl at the stumps.
The plan was to force Ankit into playing.
However, despite the ploy, Ankit capitalized on his start and stitched an 87-run partnership with opening partner Lakshya Dalal.
The slow pitch conditions helped the batsmen time their shots well, defeating Mumbai's strategy.
Spin attack
Mumbai's spinners shine as Haryana fight back
Mumbai's spinners, Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani, were key in getting rid of Yashvardan Dalal and Nishant Sindhu.
Mulani also bowled a textbook left-arm spinner's delivery to send right-handed Himanshu Rana back.
However, Ankit kept fighting back until he was finally dismissed by Mulani, just before stumps.
The latter got Ankit after an LBW appeal was survived by the former, who edged the ball to the first slip while attempting a drive.
Ankit smashed 136 off 206 balls, (21 boundaries).
Bowling performance
Haryana's disciplined bowling restricts Mumbai
Earlier in the day, Haryana's disciplined bowling had restricted Mumbai to 315.
The day started with Kotian on an unbeaten 85.
After hitting a few boundaries, he chopped one onto his stumps while attempting a drive and fell three short of his century.
This dismissal ended Mumbai's innings early and set the stage for Haryana's determined chase.
Anshul Kamboj (3/71) and Sumit Kumar (3/81) picked three wickets each.
Stats
Ankit's FC and current Ranji season numbers
The Haryana skipper who had just crossed 2,000 FC runs, has now raced to 2,140 runs at an average of 35-plus.
Additionally, across 36 matches and 60 innings, he now boasts five tons and 10 fifties. His best score reads 174.
According to ESPNcricninfo, in the ongoing Ranji season, he has racked up 563 runs at an average of 46.91 in eight matches, (13 innings).
With his century against Mumbai, he now has two centuries and two fifties, (HS: 136).