Even a five-day match can turn on its head in a solitary over. The same was on display at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here on Tuesday when a rookie spinner put Vidarbha in the ascendancy against the mighty Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinal.
In a small window of 12 minutes, in the last session on day two, Vidarbha struck four blows in 11 balls to push Mumbai on the backfoot. Parth Rekhade, a left-arm spinner playing only his second First-Class match, was the wrecker-in-chief as he scalped three international batters in his ninth over that tilted the game in Vidarbha’s favour.
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After Rekhade’s efforts — which were supported by Yash Thakur, who struck twice at critical junctures, and Harsh Dubey who earned his 60th wicket of the season — Mumbai was in trouble at 188 for seven at stumps, in quest of Vidarbha’s 383 in the first essay.
Having dismissed Vidarbha 40 minutes before lunch, with the host adding 75 runs to its overnight total, Mumbai lost opener Ayush Mhatre (lofted drive to covers) before the break. Veteran Siddhesh Lad then almost batted out the second session, before his middle-stump was pegged back by Yash with one that cut slightly and squared the batter up on the final ball of the session.
Half an hour into the third session came the over of the day. Rahane, who had an lbw decision overturned due to Yash overstepping, defended from deep inside his crease but saw the ball keeping low and rolling on to the stumps.
Vidharbha’s Parth Rekhade celebrates after a wicket against Mumbai.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI/The Hindu
Vidharbha’s Parth Rekhade celebrates after a wicket against Mumbai.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI/The Hindu
The third ball of the over saw Suryakumar Yadav’s defensive prod take a bat-pad and fall for Danish Malewar at silly point. Two balls later, Shivam Dube edged straight to slip and Rekhade went on a long sprint to celebrate his feat.
Harsh then trapped Shams Mulani in front. At 118 for six, the dangerous Shardul Thakur waged a counter-attack. But 20 minutes before stumps, Yash won the Thakur vs Thakur battle, thanks to a short-ball that Shardul pulled to deep backward square.