In a historic turn of events, Mumbai’s lower-order batsmen, Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande, scripted an extraordinary tale of resilience and skill by notching up centuries in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final clash against Baroda. The remarkable feat saw Tanush scoring an unbeaten 120 runs at number-10, while Tushar, batting at number-11, contributed a stellar 123 runs to Mumbai’s total.
Tale of Records
This exceptional display of batting prowess marks only the second instance in the annals of first-class cricket where both the number-10 and number-11 batsmen have scored centuries in the same innings. The last time such a feat occurred was in 1946 when Chandu Sarwate and Shute Banerjee achieved this milestone for the Indian team against Surrey County in England.
Mumbai-Baroda Encounte
Despite the heroic efforts of Tanush and Tushar, the match between Mumbai and Baroda ended in a draw, largely attributed to Mumbai’s imposing second-innings total of 569 runs.
Setting a daunting target of 600 runs for Baroda, Mumbai showcased their dominance in the semi-finals race. With Baroda managing to score 121 runs for the loss of three wickets by the end of the final day’s play, Mumbai advanced to the next stage based on their lead in the first innings.
Game Changing Partnership
During Mumbai’s second innings, the team found itself struggling at 337 runs with nine wickets down. It was then that Tanush and Tushar forged a remarkable partnership of 232 runs for the last wicket, turning the tide in Mumbai’s favor. Tanush’s innings saw him face 129 balls, smashing 10 boundaries and 4 sixes, while Tushar, batting aggressively, matched his counterpart with an identical scorecard.
Ranji Trophy Quarter Final
In the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy 2024, Madhya Pradesh secured a semi-final berth after defeating Andhra Pradesh by a narrow margin of 4 runs. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu clinched victory over Saurashtra by an innings and 33 runs, showcasing their dominance in the tournament.
In the inaugural quarter-final match, Vidarbha emerged victorious against Karnataka, winning by 127 runs. Noteworthy performances from Aditya Sarwate and Harsh Dubey propelled Vidarbha into the semi-finals, where they are set to face Madhya Pradesh.
estament to Mumbai’s Resilience
The extraordinary centuries by Tanush and Tushar stand as a testament to Mumbai’s cricketing legacy and the indomitable spirit of its players. As the Ranji Trophy progresses, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate more thrilling encounters and remarkable performances from the nation’s finest talents.
