MUMBAI: It was supposed to be a clash for the ages, but so ruthless were Mumbai against a Tamil Nadu team that flattered to deceive that it turned out to be a farcical contest, which lasted less than three days.
At 3:30 pm on Monday, Mumbai stormed into the Ranji Trophy final for a record 48th time when Sandeep Warrier spooned left-arm spinner Shams Mulani to Shreyas Iyer at short-mid wicket. It completed an innings and 70-run annihilation of TN, inside three days.
Mumbai, who will take some stopping, are now just a step away from title No 42 and ending their title drought since the 2015-16 season. They will face the winner of the other semifinal between Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh, in the summit clash of the Ranji Trophy at their traditional bastion — the Wankhede Stadium — from March 10.
There was talk that the final too could be held at BKC, before the Mumbai Cricket Association decided that a match of such stature must be held at the Wankhede Stadium only.
“The Wankhede Stadium has been the home of Mumbai cricket for almost half a century. Considering the legacy of the tournament and the importance of such a big game for the Mumbai cricket community, it is fitting that the final is played at the Wankhede,” said MCA secretary Ajinkya Naik.
Batting like novices on a sporting wicket at the MCA ground in BKC, TN, after erroneously deciding to take first strike on Day 1 on a juicy pitch, were rolled over for merely 162 in 52.1 overs in their second innings. They were shot out for 146 in 64.1 overs in the first.
Having unusually gone wicketless in the first innings, Mulani (4-53), mopped up Tamil Nadu’s last four wickets after tea in a collapse that saw the visitors lose their last five wickets for just nine runs in 31 balls.
Earlier, following up on his 109, ‘Lord’ Shardul Thakur, delivered the opening punches for Mumbai, scalping both the openers, Narayan Jagadeesan (0, trapped lbw) and Sai Sudharsan (5, nicked behind while driving away from his body).
TN were left tottering at 10 for three when Washington Sundar was caught behind off Mohit Avasthi. A 73-run fourth wicket stand between TN’s best batter Baba Indrajith (70, 105b, 9x4), who scored his sixth fifty of the season and Pradosh Ranjan Paul (25) only managed to delay the inevitable.
