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Mumbai start defence with dramatic victory
LAHLI: Defending champs Mumbai survived a scare in their Ranji Trophy opener against Tamil Nadu before winning by two wickets at the Bansi Lal Stadium.
LAHLI: Defending champs Mumbai survived a scare in their Ranji Trophy opener against Tamil Nadu before winning by two wickets at the Bansi Lal Stadium.
Mumbai were reeling at 60 for seven at one stage, but birthday boy Abhishek Nayar used his experience to score a quickfire 45 off 56 balls which helped his side pull through.
After being dismissed for 87 in the first innings, Tamil Nadu did shade better in the second essay scoring 185, which left Mumbai with a target of 97.
Nayar’s knock had five fours and two sixes as he negated the threat created by seamers Aswin Crist (4/43) and Krishnamoorthy Vignesh (4/29), who had put the Ranji champions on the mat.
“It was a difficult pitch. The outfield was also very slow which meant we had to run hard between the wickets. They (Tamil Nadu) bowled really well in the second innings
“I usually don’t have great birthdays, but this is the best birthday I have ever had. The team winning the game is of utmost important for me. I got good support from my teammates and that is why we managed to pull it off,” Nayar told HT after the match.
CHHATTISGARH WIN BIG ON DEBUT
RANCHI: Ranji Trophy debutants Chhattisgarh notched up an easy nine-wicket victory against tournament’s perennial whipping boys Tripura on Saturday.
Having taken a vital 137run first innings lead, the Mohammed Kaif-led side bundled out Tripura for 149 in the second innings with left-arm spinner Ajay Mandal grabbing 4 for 55.
