Ranji Trophy: Mumbai dominate on Day 1 against Tamil Nadu at MCA Cricket Ground
Close on the heels of his century effort as a No. 11 batsman against Baroda, Mumbai pacerTushar Deshpandedecided it’s a good time to strike early in his spell with the red cherry.
He did so with three wickets to put Mumbai on top in their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu at the MCA-BKC ground on Saturday.
Clearly, Day One of the tie belonged to the 41-time champions, who shot out the opposition for 146. At stumps, the hosts were 45 for the loss of Prithvi Shaw and Bhupen Lalwani.
Deshpande’s 3-24 included three of TN’s top five batsmen—Pradosh Ranjan Paul, captain Sai Kishore and Baba Indrajith.
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Early breakthrough
TN skipper Sai Kishore decided to bat on a grassy pitch and immediately faced the consequences when openers Sai Sudharsan (0) and Narayan Jagadeesan (4) were back in the dressing room by the sixth over. International pacerShardul Thakur(2-48) trapped Sudharsan leg before in the day’s very first over before Jagadeesan misjudged pacer Mohit Avasthi’s (1-23) length and offered an easy catch to short leg fielder Musheer Khan.
One-drop Paul (8) opened his and the team’s account with a four; a well-timed flick off Thakur on the very first ball he faced.
However, he didn’t last long as Deshpande, who was introduced in the ninth over as first change, held on to a caught and bowled chance in his first over.
