Defending champions Mumbai are 61 runs away from victory over Maharashtra, with all 10 wickets intact going into the final day, which would be the perfect recovery after losing their opening match of the Ranji season to Baroda.
After being on the receiving end for the past two days at the MCA-BKC ground, Maharashtra came back stronger in their second innings, but it may all back to naught as it was too big an ask after being bowled out for 126 in the first innings. The visitors made Mumbai toil hard for wickets and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (145) took the onus on himself, getting good support from young Sachin Dhas (98) and veteran Ankit Bawne (101).
Gaikwad and 19-year-old opener Dhas added 222 runs for the second wicket to keep Maharashtra in the game. They looked solid with runs flowing with ease. Mumbai had to employ new tactics and tried to stop Gaikwad by bowling a negative line, hoping he would make a mistake. They also bowled short and kept fielders in the deep, but nothing worked when the two Maharashtra batsmen were on song.
Gaikwad, the Chennai Super Kings captain, timed the ball nicely and found gaps on a regular basis. For a team that was all out for a paltry score on the first day, it was crucial that they fought back to leave an impression.
Gaikwad reached his hundred in the seventh over of the day, off just 87 balls, with a quick brace. It looked intent on a really big score. The pace he was batting at, he looked unstoppable at one stage. He was using his feet and his wrists played a major role in finding the gaps in the field.
Class player
His last first-class hundred had come 21 months ago and before flying to Australia with India A, the Pune batsman must be happy to get some runs under his willow. Maharashtra coach Sulakshan Kulkarni praised Gaikwad and said his hundred was a treat to the eyes.
Mumbai: Maharashtra’s Ruturaj Gaikwad plays a shot during day 3 of Ranji Trophy 2024-25 cricket match between Maharashtra and Mumbai, at Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC, in Mumbai, Sunday, Oct 20, 2024. (PTI Photo)
“I saw the first hundred of Rutu in person, it was a quality hundred. Some people look at statistics, some score big runs, some players are a treat to watch. His 140 was a treat to the eye. He is a touch player. Good batsmen convert good balls into bad balls. That is why he is a special player. He can hit an inswing ball for a cover drive and can cover drive an off-spinner,” Kulkarni felt.
If Gaikwad was pleasing to the eye, 19-year-old Dhas showed some class too. It made Mumbai desperate as the first session went wicket-less.
They waited for Dhas to commit a mistake and were rewarded when Mohit Avasthi bowled one short and Dhas went for a pull, only to find Shardul Thakur at deep square-leg. The wicket came when Maharashtra were looking to take control of the game. Thereafter, Gaikwad and Bawne used their experience to take the team forward but it was Shams Mulani who got the marathon man, courtesy a catch at slip by Ajinkya Rahane.
Bawne kept fighting and reached his hundred despite Tanush Kotian managing to get three middle-order wickets in quick succession at the other end. Bawne took on Thakur as he struck three consecutive fours and with partners running out, he tried a reverse hit off left-arm spinner Mulani, but got bowled. The last three batsmen added only five runs before Maharashtra got bundled out for 388, setting Mumbai a target of 74 runs for victory.
Brief scores: Maharashtra 126 & 388 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 145, Ankit Bawne 101, Sachin Dhas 98; Mohit Awasthi 3/65, Tanush Kotian 3/74, Shams Mulani 3/155) vs Mumbai 441 & 13/0.
