Ranji Trophy semi-final race heats up as Mumbai, Vidarbha, and Gujarat cruise to victory

Vidarbha, Gujarat, and Mumbai have stormed into the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy after securing dominant victories in their respective quarter-final clashes. The three teams showcased their strength and resilience, leaving Kerala and Jammu & Kashmir in a battle for the last semi-final spot.

Defending champions Mumbai demonstrated their champion mentality as they overcame early struggles to defeat Haryana by 152 runs at Eden Gardens. Mumbai’s quarter-final clash began on a shaky note as their batting lineup crumbled against Haryana’s pacers on the opening day. The likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Ajinkya Rahane failed to make a significant impact, leaving Mumbai struggling at 113/7.

However, Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani staged a remarkable fightback with a 165-run partnership for the eighth wicket, lifting Mumbai to a competitive total of 315. In response, Haryana captain Ankit Kumar’s brilliant 136 kept his side in the game, but a middle-order collapse saw them fall just short, finishing at 301 and conceding a slender 15-run lead.

Mumbai capitalized on their second innings, with skipper Ajinkya Rahane leading from the front with a century. Contributions from Shivam Dube (48) and Suryakumar Yadav (70) further bolstered their total, setting Haryana a daunting 354-run target. Haryana’s chase never gained momentum as they collapsed to 60/5 early on. Although Lakshay Dalal (64) and Sumit Kumar (62) attempted to revive their innings, Mumbai’s bowlers proved too strong, sealing a convincing victory.

Vidarbha delivered a dominant display to outclass Tamil Nadu by 198 runs. Karun Nair’s century powered Vidarbha to a strong start, guiding his team to 353 in the first innings. Tamil Nadu, in response, struggled against Vidarbha’s disciplined bowling attack. Despite fighting fifties from Pradosh Ranjan Paul and Sonu Yadav, they managed only 225, handing Vidarbha a crucial 128-run lead.

Yash Rathod then took charge in Vidarbha’s second innings, smashing a century that put Tamil Nadu under immense pressure. Vidarbha declared at 272, setting a massive target of 401 for Tamil Nadu to chase. The challenge proved insurmountable as Tamil Nadu faltered, folding for just 202 in the final innings.

Gujarat delivered a ruthless performance to dismantle Saurashtra by an innings and 98 runs. The quarter-final clash saw Gujarat’s Urvil Patel and Jaymeet Manishbhai Patel shine with the bat, while Priyajeet Narendrasinh Jadeja starred with the ball.

Saurashtra’s first innings ended at 216, a total that proved inadequate against Gujarat’s explosive batting display. Urvil Patel, who had earlier set the record for the second-fastest T20 fifty in November, translated his white-ball form into red-ball cricket with a blistering maiden first-class century. His 140-run knock, along with Jaymeet Patel’s 103, helped Gujarat amass a mammoth 511, securing a 295-run lead.

Saurashtra’s batters crumbled under the pressure in their second innings. Despite some resistance, they were bowled out, conceding a comprehensive defeat. Gujarat’s Priyajeet Narendrasinh Jadeja was instrumental in their downfall, picking up four wickets to complete the demolition.

The match also marked the farewell of Saurashtra’s veteran batsman Sheldon Jackson, who played his last professional game. Jackson retired with an impressive career tally of 7,283 runs in 174 innings at an average of 45.80, including 21 centuries and 39 half-centuries. The highlight of his career was helping Saurashtra clinch the Ranji Trophy in 2019-20.

With Mumbai, Vidarbha, and Gujarat sealing their semi-final spots, all eyes are now on the final quarter-final clash to determine the fourth and final team in the last four.