Ranji Trophy 2022 | Dubey, Sharma hold off Mumbai bowlers, MP on verge of 1st innings lead

Madhya Pradesh look like favourites heading into the fourth day as the perennial underachievers chase their first Ranji Trophy title. Up against a rampaging Mumbai unit, the Aditya Shrivastava-led side scored 245 runs off the 82 overs they faced on Day 3 at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The two overnight batsmen, Yash Dubey and Shubham Sharma, both plundered identical tons to sink Mumbai’s chances of gaining a first-innings advantage. Sharma batted his way to 116 from 215 balls, while opener Dubey compiled 133 during his marathon 336-ball stay at the crease.

While MP’s middle-order batsman Rajat Patidar scored a quickfire fifty, he adopted a cautious approach in his batting during the twilight stages of the day. Patidar remained unbeaten on 67 and will continue his side’s first-innings response tomorrow alongside captain Shrivastava. Overall, the Madhya Pradesh batters finished the day at 368-3, just six runs shy of Mumbai’s 374-run total.

Among the Mumbai bowlers, Shams Mulani, Mohit Avasthi and Tushar Deshpande all claimed a wicket each. Dhawal Kulkarni remained wicketless despite toiling away for 21 overs in the middle.

The Prithvi Shaw-led side will be looking for early wickets on Day 4 as they chase their 42nd Ranji Trophy title.

Brief scores:

Mumbai: 374 (127.4)

Sarfaraz Khan 134, Yashasvi Jaiswal 78

Gaurav Yadav 4-106, Anubhav Agarwal 3-81

Madhya Pradesh: 368-3 (123)

Yash Dubey 133, Shubham Sharma 116

Mohit Avasthi 1-53, Tushar Deshpande 1-73

Madhya Pradesh trail by 6 runs