Mumbai were seven wickets down with just 108 runs on the board when Shardul Thakur walked in to bat in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Tamil Nadu. Even though the latter had put together 146 runs, they still had the lead.
However, the Indian bowling all-rounder shifted the momentum of the game by scoring his maiden first-class hundred to put the 41-time Ranji Trophy winners in the driving seat.
Coincidentally, Shardul’s previous highest first-class score had also come batting at number nine, and at the back of a similar batting collapse. Back in 2014 against Uttar Pradesh, Shardul helped Mumbai score 270 – courtesy his 82 – after being seven wickets down for 123.
Shardul Thakur gets to his century in style 🔥🔥
What a time to score your maiden first-class 💯
The celebrations say it all 👌👌@imShard | @IDFCFIRSTBank | #RanjiTrophy | #MUMvTN | #SF2
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/9tosMLk9TT pic.twitter.com/3RI9Sap6DO
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 3, 2024
Earlier on Sunday, the Tamil Nadu bowlers helped bring their team back into the game by running through the majority of Mumbai’s batting lineup. Musheer Khan, who only scored his maiden first-class hundred last month went on to add another half-century to his account. But the rest of the power-packed lineup was unable to leave a mark.
Prithvi Shaw was cheaply dismissed early in the innings while captain Ajinkya Rahane’s poor run with the bat continued as he was only able to amass 19 runs. Shreyas Iyer, who has been in the news after being snubbed of a BCCI central contract, was also dismissed for a measly three.
Tamil Nadu captain Sai Kishore was the pick of the bowlers, snapping six wickets on the day.
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It took two partnerships to bring Mumbai ashore: first the 105 run stand between Shardul and Hardik Tamore (35) and then the unbeaten ninth wicket stand between the centurion and Tanush Kotian.
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