Ranji Trophy final: Mumbai on top as Vidarbha chase 538
Mumbai were dominant side on Day 3 of the ongoing Ranji Trophy final at the Wankhede Stadium. The hosts scored a mammoth 418 in the second innings against Vidarbha, with Musheer Khan slamming a historic century. Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Shams Mulani also played crucial roles. Meanwhile, Vidarbha's Harsh Dubey took a five-wicket haul. The visitors require 538 runs to win the final.
Musheer's composed knock in second innings
Musheer walked in after Mumbai lost Prithvi Shaw early in the second innings. Within minutes, the former lost Bhupen Lalwani's support. Musheer then joined forces with skipper Rahane, with the duo batting till stumps. They took Mumbai past 100. While Rahane departed on Day 3 (164/3), Musheer added another century-plus stand with Shreyas Iyer. He eventually smashed a composed 326-ball 136 (10 fours).
Musheer breaks Sachin Tendulkar's record
Musheer has become the youngest Mumbai player to score a century in the Ranji Trophy final. He broke the record of Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, who smashed 140 against Punjab in the 1994-95 Ranji Trophy final. India's legendary batter was 21 back then. That match was held at Wankhede, where Mumbai declared at 690/6 in the first innings. Mumbai eventually lifted the trophy.
Iyer plays a counter-attacking knock
In the second innings, Iyer arrived in the middle after Mumbai lost skipper Rahane at 164/3. The former joined Musheer, who went on to score a fine century. While Iyer counter-attacked, Musheer held his fort. The duo took Mumbai past 330 to bolster their chances. Iyer missed his century by five runs, departing for 95 off 111 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes).
Iyer shuts his critics
Iyer finally silenced his critics with a solid half-century in the second innings. The middle-order Indian batter made a statement after the BCCI excluded him and Ishan Kishan from the central contract list.
Harsh Dubey takes his maiden FC fifer
Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey was the pick of Vidarbha's bowlers in the second innings. He dismissed Bhupen Lalwani, a well-set Rahane, Tanush Kotian, Shardul, and Dhawal Kulkarni to record a five-wicket haul. It was his maiden fifer in First-Class cricket. Notably, Dubey bowled the most overs for Vidarbha (48), having conceded 144 runs, including four maidens.
A brilliant hand from Mulani
Shams Mulani, who took three wickets in the first innings, showcased his batting skills on Day 3. He joined in at 343/5 and took Mumbai past 400 with a half-century. Mulani slammed an unbeaten 50 off 85 balls (6 fours). It was his 16th half-century in First-Class cricket. Mulani has now raced past 1,600 runs in red-ball cricket.
Vidarbha were 10/0 at stumps
Vidarbha (10/0) batted for two overs in the final session on Day 3. While Mulani started the proceedings, Shardul bowled the other over. Vidarbha openers Atharva Taide (3*) and Dhruv Shorey (7*) returned unbeaten.
