Post News Network
Cuttack, Feb 17: Forty-time champions Mumbai will target their 41st title victory after entering the Ranji Trophy final by virtue of their first innings lead over Madhya Pradesh. They were however, denied an outright win by fighting centuries from Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha and Harpreet Singh on the last day of the semifinal which ended Wednesday at the DRIEMS Ground. Mumbai will now meet Saurashtra in the summit clash starting February 24 at Pune.
Madhya Pradesh, who needed to chase a mammoth 571-run target in little more than four sessions in the fourth innings, ended their second innings at 361 for five with the game ending in a tame draw.
Madhya Pradesh, starting the day at 99/2, went on to frustrate the Mumbai bowlers for 109 overs, putting a much improved effort than the first innings where they managed 227 to Mumbai’s 371.
Ojha (113, 185, 13×4, 1×6), who started the day on 14 ended up hitting his 15th first class ton and the first this season. He shared a 159-run stand with Harpreet (105, 189b, 11×4, 1×6), who brought up his second century of the season and ended the tournament as his team’s leading run-getter with 750 runs in 15 innings.
Brief scores: Mumbai 371 and 426; Madhya Pradesh 227 and 361/5 (Naman Ojha 113, Harpreet Singh 105).
