Ajinkya Rahane’s Mumbai showed why they are the most dominant side in the Indian domestic cricket’s history on Day 3 of the ongoing Ranji Trophy quarterfinals. They had their backs against the wall at the end of Day 2 but they completely turned the game upside down within the first hour. Shardul Thakur was the star with the ball as he wreaked havoc on Haryana’s lower-order. Captain Rahane and India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav then built a superb partnership to end the day high for Mumbai. Apart from this, Gujarat furthered their grip against rivals Saurashtra, who need a miracle to win the match.
However, the most striking moment was Kerala’s trump to get a 1-run lead against Jammu and Kashmir, who could’ve fancied their chances earlier. Salman Nazir hit a superb 112* to save the day for Kerala.
Good news for Mumbai Indians! Suryakumar Yadav is back
Mumbai ended the day in a strong position at 278/4 against Haryana, leading by 292 runs. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane showcased his class, remaining unbeaten on 88, while Shivam Dube provided solid support. Earlier in the innings, Suryakumar Yadav played an aggressive knock, putting rest to his sluggish form. He raced to his fifty but perished while attempting an ambitious hook shot off Anuj Thakral. Despite his dismissal, Mumbai’s lead continues to grow, putting them in control of the match.
Struggling for form in T20 cricket, Surya took the opportunity to thrash Haryana’s bowlers, scoring a quickfire 70 runs off 86 balls, including two sixes and eight fours. This knock was a much-needed confidence booster for Suryakumar, who had been going through a lean patch. In the first innings, he had managed only 9 runs, continuing a string of poor performances in the shorter format.
His struggles were particularly evident in the T20 series against England, where he accumulated just 28 runs in five innings at a dismal average of 5.6. This was the second-lowest average in a multi-match T20 series of his career, following his poor outing against South Africa where he averaged 8.66 over four innings.
In the Ranji match, Surya’s partnership with captain Ajinkya Rahane was crucial. The duo added 129 runs for the fourth wicket, pulling Mumbai out of trouble after they had lost three wickets for just 100 runs. Mumbai Indians (MI) fans would be dearly happy with this!
Salman Nizar shines as Kerala takes the lead
Kerala managed a slender one-run lead over Jammu & Kashmir, thanks to Salman Nizar’s brilliant century. He fought valiantly alongside the lower-order, ensuring Kerala crossed J&K’s total of 280 before being bowled out for 281. J&K, in response, ended the day at 134/3, leading by 133 runs. Paras Dogra, taking his time at the crease, completed a well-compiled fifty, while Kanhaiya Wadhawan played a resilient knock to keep the scoreboard moving. The match remains delicately poised heading into the next day.
Urvil Patel’s heroics pile on Gujarat’s dominance
Gujarat asserted their dominance over Saurashtra, riding on a scintillating 140 from Urvil Patel. Gujarat posted a mammoth 511, gaining a 295-run lead. Ravi Bishnoi’s entertaining cameo of 45, which included multiple boundaries, further frustrated Saurashtra’s bowlers. In response, Saurashtra started cautiously at 33/0, facing the daunting task of erasing a massive deficit. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja’s fifer was a silver lining for Saurashtra, but they now need a herculean effort to turn the tide.
Ranji Trophy Day 3 QFs Brief Scores:
| Match | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai vs Haryana, Quarter Final 3 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | Mumbai lead by 292 runs (3rd inn) |
| Saurashtra vs Gujarat, Quarter Final 4 | Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot | Saurashtra trail by 262 runs (3d inn) |
| Vidarbha vs Tamil Nadu, Quarter Final 2 | Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur | Vidarbha lead by 297 runs (3rd inn) |
| Jammu and Kashmir vs Kerala, Quarter Final 1 | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune | Jammu and Kashmir lead by 179 runs (3rd inn) |
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