TN collects 3 points in draw against Mumbai

Despite centuries from opener Akhil Herwadkar 132 (244b, 14x4, 3x6) and one down batsman Shreyas Iyer 138 (124b, 11x4), host Mumbai had to settle for only a point while its opponent Tamil Nadu received three points by virtue of first innings lead in the Group C Ranji Trophy here on Friday. 

Mumbai declared its second innings at 371 for five with captain Aditya Tare not out on 20 and allrounder Abhishek Nayar yet to open his account. Resuming from its overnight score of 85 for one, the pair of Iyer and Herwadkar continued scoring runs at a fast clip and raised an association of 187 runs for the second wicket, before Iyer was run out after an entertaining knock of 138 that came at a strike rate of more than 100. Left-arm spinner Rahil Shah took two wickets for 86 runs and he claimed the crucial wicket of the other centurion, Herwadkar, caught behind by N Jagadeesan. 

Premier off-spinner R Ashwin bowled 26 overs giving away 110 runs, but his toil couldn’t fetch him any wickets. After the completion of three matches, Tamil Nadu occupies the third slot on the table with seven points. Interestingly, all its three matches have ended in draws. Last season’s runner-up Mumbai, meanwhile, has four points from two matches and is fourth on the standings. 

Tamil Nadu’s next assignment will see it travelling to Cuttack to take on Odisha. Andhra pockets three points against Odisha In another Group C encounter at Vizianagaram, Andhra drew with Odisha after posting a mammoth 584 runs in the first innings courtesy of an incredible triple hundred by Hanuma Vihari. In reply, the away side made 391 and was forced to follow-on. 

Andhra fell short of a victory by just three wickets after it skittled Odisha to 152 for seven wickets in the second innings. Leftarm spinner Bhargav Bhatt (Andhra) produced a stellar performance after picking up four wickets in each of the two innings. Hanuma Vihari was handed the ‘Man of the match’ award for his brilliant knock Mumbai.

Mumbai (2nd innings) P Shaw b Vijay Shankar 5, A Herwadkar c Jagadeesan b Shah 132, S Iyer (run out) 138, S Yadav lbw Vignesh 32, S Lad c Jagadeesan b Shah 40, A Tare (not out) 20, A Nayar (not out) 0. Extras (4). Total (in 95 overs) 371/5 decl. FoW: 1-6, 2-193, 3-250, 4-329, 5-364. Bowling: V Shankar 13-2-57-1, Ashwin 26-5-110-0, Rahil Shah 21-5-86-2, K Vignesh 15-2-45-1, Washington Sundar 14-1-42-0, Yo Mahesh 3-0-23-0, Vijay 3-0-8-0.