Karnataka set Wankhede date

Cricket Ranji Trophy: Champions down determined Mumbai by 112 runs to enter the summit clash

 Karnataka players went up in joy once Robin Uthappa pouched Siddesh Lad’s edge off S Arvind on Saturday. The celebrations, however, soon assumed a bigger scale as umpires confirmed that Abhishek Nayar would not walk in to resume his innings.

It was also a confirmation that Mumbai’s second innings would end at 332 and the 112-run win in the semifinals guaranteed Karnataka a place in their second consecutive Ranji Trophy final. The defending champions will now face either Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu in the title clash at Mumbai from March 8.

Resuming from their overnight 277 for six, Mumbai required a strong effort from their late order to reach 445 for an unlikely victory. Mumbai had shown a fighting streak the previous day, promising an entertaining affair on the fourth day.

But it soon became clear that the visitors would not be able to keep their fate — which was more or less sealed once they were bundled out for 44 in 15.3 overs in their first innings — at bay any longer. Nayar, who surprised everyone while coming out to bat on day three, remained in the dressing room. Balwinder Sandhu entered the field with Lad, who made a gutsy 74, in place of the left-hander, who had suffered a concussive head injury while fielding on the opening day.

Abhimanyu Mithun soon jettisoned Sandhu, trapping him leg before, and Shreyas Gopal ensured that Shardul Thakur, a dangerous late order batsman, too would not flex his muscles. Left-arm pacer Arvind broke through the last line of Mumbai defence, dismissing Lad as Karnataka embraced victory.

Perhaps, as a reward for their big-hearted effort over the last three days, Karnataka needed to spend only 70 minutes and 14.1 overs on the field to race home. There were multiple heroes for Karnataka in this match.

Mithun struck at crucial times with the ball, and made a valiant 89 in the second innings help side garner a big lead. Uthappa (68) and Karun Nair (49 n.o.) had chipped in with important knocks in the first innings. But skipper R Vinay Kumar towered over everyone with brilliant spell of six for 20 to roll over Mumbai for a paltry score in their first innings.

Vinay was named man of the match for setting up the match for Karnataka, and he was quite elated. “I always think about the present and play. Sometimes, I get wickets sometimes I don’t get. My mindset and approach is always to perform and get wickets for the team.

“It is very challenging for me when the chips are down.  If there is a big partnership and I come out and break the partnership I feel very good,” said Vinay. The only sour note for them from this match was the hamstring injury that CM Gautam suffered on the third day. He didn’t keep in Mumbai’s second innings and Vinay hoped that Gautam would be available for the final.