Avasthi, Deshpande spark Mumbai comeback to edge Karnataka in Ranji QF
Avasthi, Deshpande spark Mumbai comeback to edge Karnataka in Ranji QF
Mohit Avasthi and Tushar Deshpande shine with four-wicket hauls as Mumbai restrict Karnataka to 173 and reach 189-2 by day's end in a gripping Ranji Trophy quarterfinal.
A dismal start for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal looked set to derail their campaign, but the hosts staged a dramatic comeback led by a fiery fast-bowling spell. Mohit Avasthi claimed four for 27, while Tushar Deshpande matched him with four for 33 as Karnataka were bowled out for 173 at the MCA-BKC ground. Avasthi and Deshpande combined to run through the middle order, with eight wickets tumbling for just 63 as Karnataka’s aggression with a strong start faded into a scramble for a competitive total. Mayank Agarwal offered a lone resistance, his 92 off 134 balls featuring 14 fours and a six, but his dismissal at second slip off a lively Deshpande delivery signaled Mumbai’s control over the innings.
Karnataka, though, had pinned Delhi’s chase back in league play and looked set to push for a sizable score when 110 for two became a dangerous anchor. But the late burst from Mumbai’s bowlers changed the tone of the day, and the visitors folded inside 127 minutes, leaving Mumbai with a lead to defend.
In response, Mumbai made a steady start, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Akhil Herwadkar adding 77 for the opening stand. A mix-up in the field ended Herwadkar’s innings as he headed back to the dressing room, and Jaiswal followed soon after, stumped by Shreyas Gopal off a sharp reveal from the same bowler. The hosts regrouped under the light, with Akash Anand and Musheer Khan taking charge, each approaching fifties. Akash Anand remained not out on 53 from 130 balls, while Musheer Khan was unbeaten on 49 with 105 balls faced as Mumbai ended day two on 189 for two, leading by 136 and in a commanding position to push for a place in the semifinals.
The two young pace seamers, who have had a reputation to back their claims as “khadoos” in the domestic circuit, delivered when it mattered most, backing a middle-order show that held firm after the early loss of Jaiswal. The second-day momentum leaves Mumbai with a clear blueprint for day three: continue to bat with discipline while leveraging the bowlers’ early success to enforce pressure. If they can stretch the lead and force Karnataka to chase under lights, the stage is set for a dramatic Ranji Trophy finish.
