Mumbai players appeal for a caught behind against MP batsman Aditya Shrivastava which was turned down at the DRIEMS ground, Tuesday OP Photo
Cuttack: Madhya Pradesh were left to chase a mammoth 571-run victory target in the fourth innings after Mumbai’s Suryakumar Yadav (115, 199b, 20×4, 1×6) and Aditya Tare (109, 199b, 16×4, 1×6) completed their centuries on day four of the Ranji Trophy semifinal at the DRIEMS ground in Tangi, Tuesday.
Forty-time champions Mumbai then hit back with the ball against some dour defensive batting to have MP 99 for two at stumps still needing another 472 runs for an improbable outright win.
Mumbai, who started their second innings on 285 for three, went on to make 426 courtesy the three-figure knocks from Yadav and Tare and a quickfire unbeaten innings by Abhishek Nayar (73 n o, 90b, 12×4, 1×6). Both Yadav and Tare were in their 90s when they came out to batting in the morning and did not face any problems to duly complete their tons. Both got out trying to score quickly.
Pacer Ishwar Pandey (3/103) and spinner Harpreet Singh (3/55) toiled hard for Madhya Pradesh on a pitch which did not have anything for the bowlers.
Coming out to pull off a Herculean task, Aditya Shrivastava (53 batting, 102b, 9×4) stuck to his duty with grit and determination. Giving him company at stumps was Naman Ojha (14 batting, 19b, 1×4, 1×6).
The winner of this game will face Saurashtra in the final.
Brief scores: Mumbai 371 and 426 (Aditya Tare 109, Suryakumar Yadav 115, Abhishek Nayar 73; Ishwar Pandey 3/103); Madhya Pradesh 227 and 99/2. Match to continue.
PNN