Ranji Trophy Highlights, Semifinals Day 3: Rathod, Wadkar help Vidarbha recover against Mumbai; Gujarat batters grind down Kerala

Ranji Trophy Highlights, Semifinals Day 3: Rathod, Wadkar help Vidarbha recover against Mumbai; Gujarat batters grind down Kerala

The home team has given Kerala a real scare after a dominant performance with the bat on the third day. Priyank Panchal and Aarya Desai added 131 runs for the opening wicket before Manan Hingrajia joined Panchal for an unbeaten 91-run stand. Gujarat still trails by 235 runs, but unless the pitch changes drastically over the next two days, Gujarat should back itself to overhaul Kerala’s first-innings score. 

Vidarbha leads by 260 runs with six wickets in hand at the end of the third day. Yash Rathod and Akshay Wadkar put on 91 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket to help restore Vidarbha’s ascendancy after the team was reduced to 56/4 in the second session. Mumbai will need to get the next six wickets in quick time, because after having conceded the first-innings lead, the defending champion is on the back foot. 

Yash Rathod and Akshay Wadkar have rescued Vidarbha and taken its lead to 250. However, Rathod, who is on 56, seems to be struggling with cramps and is receiving some treatment from the physio in the middle. 

Yash Rathod continues his rich vein of form with yet another half-century. Rathod and Akshay Wadkar have put on 71 runs for the fifth wicket to grind the Mumbai bowlers down. Vidarbha leads by 241 runs with six wickets in hand. 

Priyank Panchal and Manan Hingrajia push Gujarat to the 200-run mark and the pitch still doesn’t seem to have anything in it for the bowlers. Hingrajia has been sedate, batting on 16 off 82 balls, while Panchal has assumed the aggressor’s role. 

Priyank Panchal completes his century in style with a six off Aditya Sarwate. He gets to the mark in 155 balls. Gujarat 189/1 in 56 overs. 

The 50-run partnership comes up between Priyank Panchal and Manan Hingrajia off 110 balls. Gujarat now trails by just over 270 runs. 

An outside edge for Yash Rathod and the ball runs away through the slip cordon and to the boundary. That streaky boundary brings up the 100 for Vidarbha, which now leads by 214 runs. 

Yash Rathod and Akshay Wadkar stretch Vidarbha’s lead to 200 runs. Wadkar playing second fiddle to Rathod at the moment. 

Gujarat has dropped a gear since Aarya Desai’s dismissal. Still, Priyank Panchal and Manan Hingrajia are looking solid in the middle. 

The in-form Yash Rathod and captain Akshay Wadkar will have a task on their hands. With Vidarbha reeling at 67/4, they will hope to play out this session without too much damage and extend their lead in the process. 

Mumbai has clawed its way back into the game with Vidarbha losing four quick wickets. Still, with a lead of 178 runs, Vidarbha is still ahead but Mumbai is not going to go down without a fight. 

Gujarat is still 311 runs behind and that wicket of Aarya Desai would have brought Kerala some relief. However, it will still have to contend with Priyank Panchal, who is unbeaten on 68. Manan Hingrajia is at the other end on 5. 

Aarya Desai is clean bowled by N. Basil for 73, and Kerala finally breaks the ominous opening stand. Gujarat 143/1 in 43 overs. 

Now, Tanush Kotian traps Dhruv Shorey in front and Vidarbha loses its fourth wicket. Vidarbha 63/4 in 24 overs. 

Karun Nair has to go for 6 runs off 17 balls as Shams Mulani strikes. Nair reviewed this after the on-field umpire gave it out and Vidarbha ends up losing its second review as ball-tracking shows this would have hit leg-stump. Vidarbha 52/3, leads by 165 runs. 

Priyank Panchal brings up his fifty off 96 balls with a risky lofted shot off Aditya Sarwate. He launched the ball down the ground and mid-on almost got to it running towards the boundary from inside the circle. Gujarat 119/0 in 34 overs. 

Prayank Panchal and Aarya Desai bring up the 100-run opening stand for Gujarat. Kerala’s 457 is still some distance away but this partnership will definitely worry Sachin Baby’s team. Gujarat 102/0 in 31 overs. 

Danish Malewar hands a return catch to Shams Mulani, and Vidarbha loses its second wicket. Vidarbha leads by 153 runs with eight wickets in hand. 

Danish Malewar c & b Shams Mulani 29 (36b 4×4)

Priyank Panchal and Aarya Desai build on their opening stand after Lunch. Gujarat 79/0 in 25 overs. Desai gets to his 50 with a boundary. 

Priyank Panchal and Aarya Desai have put on a strong opening wicket partnership to keep Gujarat in the game after Kerala posted 457. Gujarat still trails by 396 runs at Lunch on Day 3 put the foundation for a good riposte has been laid. 

Atharva Taide falls off the second ball of Vidarbha’s second innings. Vidarbha 0/1 at Lunch, leads by 113 runs. 

Harsh Dubey cleans up Mohit Avasthi’s off-stump and Mumbai’s innings comes to an end. Vidarbha leads by 113 runs. Mumbai 270 all out in 92 overs. 

Mohit Avasthi b Harsh Dubey 10 (37b 1×4)

Aarya Desai and Priyank Panchal bring up the fifty-run opening stand in the 13th over to begin their pursuit of 457 against Kerala in style. 

Vidarbha will breathe a sigh of relief as Akash Anand departs after scoring 106. He is caught behind off Nachiket Bhute and Mumbai is 261/9. 

Akash Anand c Akshay Wadkar b Nachiket Bhute 106 (256b 11×4)

Akash Anand brings up his hundred off 248 balls with a paddle sweep to the fine-leg boundary. Another lower-order rearguard saves Mumbai the blushes, and Anand will now want to take Mumbai closer to Vidarbha’s first-innings total of 383. Mumbai 260/8. Vidarbha hasn’t yet taken the new ball. 

Akash Anand moves to 96, on the brink of his second First-Class hundred. The second new ball can now be taken. 

Mumbai is finall eight down as Parth Rekhade knocks Tanush Kotian’s stumps over. Mumbai 247/8, trails by 136 runs. 

Tanush Kotian b Parth Rekhade 33 (75b 4×4 1×6)

Priyank Panchal and Aarya Desai open the innings for Gujarat against Kerala. Panchal opens his account with an outside edge that trickles to the boundary behind point. Gujarat 5/0, trails by 452 runs. 

Mumbai’s fightback continues as Akash Anand moves into the nineties and adds 58 runs with Tanush Kotian for the eighth wicket. Mumbai 236/7, trails by 147 runs. 

Chinta Gaja induces N. Basil’s outside edge and the low catch is completed in the slip cordon. Kerala is bowled out for 457, with Mohammed Azharuddeen unbeaten on 177. b

MD Nidheesh is run out at the striker’s end and Kerala loses its ninth wicket for 455. N. Basil is the last man in. 

MD Nidheesh run out (Urvil Patel) 5 (7b 1×4)

Mohammed Azharuddeen continues his charge, and takes Kerala to the 450-mark with a boundary. He moves to 171 with that four off Arzan Nagwaswalla. Kerala 450/8 vs Gujarat. 

Gujarat skipper Chinta Gaja cleans up Aditya Sarwate with a peach of a delivery that straightens from around middle-stump to peg the off-stump back. Sarwate walks back for 11. 

That was also Gaja’s 200th wicket in First-Class cricket, our reporter Anish Pathiyil, who is in Ahmedabad, informs. 

Aditya Sarwate b Chintan Gaja 11 (34b 1×4)

Tanush Kotian and Akash Anand have looked at ease so far this morning, and the duo also brings up 200 for Mumbai in 63 overs. Vidarbha leads by 183 runs. 

Vidarbha skipper Akshay Wadkar drops a regulation catch behind the stumps in the first over of the day to give Tanush Kotian a reprieve on 6. Mumbai 192/7 in 60 overs. 

Yash Thakur begins the proceedings for Vidarbha with the ball. Akash Anand and Tanush Kotian will hope to lead yet another Mumbai lower-order fightback. Mumbai 191/7. 

A single for Mohammed Azharuddeen off the first ball of the day and he brings up his 150 off 304 balls. Arzan Nagwaswalla bowls the first over of the day. Kerala 419/7. 

The Ranji Trophy semifinals between Vidarbha and Mumbai, and Kerala and Gujarat can be streamed LIVE on the JioHotstar app and website from 9:30 AM IST onwards. Both matches will also be aired LIVE on the Star Sports Network.