Mumbai made a roaring comeback after Haryana flattened its top order in a roller-coaster first day of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals here at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.
Haryana reduced Mumbai to 113 for seven inside 30 overs before Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian made use of better batting conditions to stitch a 165-run stand to restore parity.
Despite the situation, both batters kept the shots in play. Kotian placed a backfoot punch towards square to get his first boundary while Mulani checked an upper cut early into his innings.
Flat conditions nullified Jayant Yadav and Nishant Sindhu’s spin threat and pacers were forced to put more effort on the ball.
After batting nearly two sessions, Mulani got a leading edge straight back to Jayant five minutes before stumps, missing his century by nine runs. Mumbai finished at 278 for eight.
AS IT HAPPENED | RANJI TROPHY 2024-25 QUARTERFINALS DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS
Earlier, a 9 AM start gave Haryana pacers a home-like feel with seam movement on offer as Anshul Kamboj uprooted Ayush Mhatre’s middle stump off the first ball. 26 minutes later, Sumit Kumar set up Akash Anand’s wicket with a series of outswingers before landing an inswinger into the off stump of the batter who shouldered his arms.
Kamboj then cleaned up Siddhesh Lad and Sumit cut short Suryakumar Yadav’s stay at the crease with a nip-backer, disturbing the stumps for the fourth time in the morning.
With Mumbai 25 for four, Shivam Dube showed attacking intent in his 32-ball innings, hitting four fours and a six to score 28. However, he walked back dejectedly after Ajit Chahal induced an edge straight to the second slip placed wide.
Rahane played with soft hands, showcasing some good-looking strokes down the ground before getting a faint one off Kamboj. Shardul Thakur’s dismissal early in the second session brought Mulani and Kotian together, who then pulled the defending champion out of the rubble.