Parth Rekhade Spins Mumbai Into Trouble in Ranji Trophy Semifinal

Parth Rekhade delivered a stunning spell of bowling on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy semifinal in Nagpur, leaving Mumbai’s title defense hanging by a thread. The left-arm spinner took three quick wickets in a single over, triggering a collapse that saw Mumbai slump to 188 for 7 in their chase of Vidarbha’s first-innings total of 383.

Rekhade’s Brilliant Burst Shakes Mumbai

Trailing by 195 runs at the close of play, Mumbai faces an uphill battle as they head into Day 3. The discipline of Vidarbha’s bowling attack, coupled with Rekhade’s brilliance, has kept Mumbai under constant pressure. Mumbai’s hopes now rest largely on opener Akash Anand, who remains unbeaten at 67*, and Tanush Kotian, who is at the crease with 5*.

Mumbai had appeared steady at 113 for 2, but Rekhade turned the game in a dramatic sequence. In the 41st over, he removed Ajinkya Rahane (18) with a simple delivery that saw him drag the ball onto his stumps. The very next ball saw Suryakumar Yadav (0) dismissed at silly point by Danish Malewar after a defensive shot. A few deliveries later, Shivam Dube (0) followed suit, caught for a two-ball duck. In the blink of an eye, Mumbai had crumbled from 113/2 to 113/5.

A Brief Recovery, But Mumbai Still Struggles

The collapse continued as Shams Mulani fell leg-before to Harsh Dubey, reducing Mumbai to 118/6. However, Anand and Shardul Thakur tried to steady the ship with a vital 60-run partnership. Thakur, known for his resilient performances, counterattacked with a quick-fire 37 off 41 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Just when it seemed like he could go on to make a bigger impact, Thakur fell to a well-directed short ball from Yash Thakur.

Siddhesh Lad (35) had earlier been dismissed by Yash Thakur, breaking a crucial second-wicket stand and leaving Mumbai in a tough spot. The team’s innings began shakily with Ayush Mhatre falling early, caught at cover by Malewar, but Lad and Anand had steadied the ship temporarily.

Vidarbha’s Dominant Position

Earlier in the day, Vidarbha added 75 more runs to their overnight score of 308/5. Yash Rathod brought up his half-century but was dismissed for 54 off 113 balls, striking seven boundaries. Despite the late wickets, Vidarbha’s 383 total gave them a commanding position, and their bowlers ensured they remained firmly in control of the contest.

As Day 3 looms, Mumbai will need something extraordinary to turn the tide in their favor. With only three wickets left and a significant deficit to overcome, Vidarbha is well on its way to securing a place in the final.

Brief Scores:

• Vidarbha: 383 in 107.5 overs (Dhruv Shorey 74, Danish Malewar 79, Yash Rathod 54; Shivam Dube 5/49, Shams Mulani 2/62)
• Mumbai: 188/7 in 59 overs (Akash Anand 67*; Yash Thakur 2/56, Parth Rekhade 3/16)

Can Mumbai bounce back from this pressure or will Vidarbha continue to dominate? Stay tuned as the semifinal unfolds. What do you think of Rekhade’s match-changing spell? Share your thoughts and don’t forget to subscribe for more updates!