Ranji Trophy 2022 | Mumbai overhaul a 92-year-old record as they maul Uttarakhand by 725 runs

Former Ranji Trophy heavyweights Mumbai scripted history on Thursday morning as the Prithvi Shaw-led unit not only qualified for the semi-finals of the coveted tournament, but they did so by thumping a listless Uttarakhand side by a record 725 runs.

By doing so, the 41-time champions have added yet another jewel to their crown as they broke a 92-year-old record for registering the most significant margin of victory in the history of First-Class cricket.

The record was previously held by New South Wales when they beat Queensland by a staggering 685 runs during the 1929/30 season of the Sheffield Shield.

The Ranji Trophy record for the same was 540 runs when Bengal beat Odhisa by 540 runs in 1953/54.

Having set a target scarcely believable 795 in the fourth innings, Mumbai bowlers, especially veteran seamer Dhawal Kulkarni and left-arm orthodox Shams Mulani- were all over hapless Uttarakhand batters like a cheap suit, eventually dismissing them for 69 in just 27.5 overs.

Kulkarni (3/11 in 6 overs) started the rut as he knocked over three out of the first-4 batters to leave Uttarakhand gasping for breath at 4-16.

Following an early onslaught by the seamer, it was the turn of Mulani to wreak the havoc.

The left-arm orthodox, who claimed 5-39 in the first innings, scalped three more to take his wickets tally to 8 for the match.

Only two Uttarakhand batsmen- Kunal Chandela 21 (44) and Shivam Khurana 25* (35)- could cross the double-figures. But, while the latter hit some lusty blows, in the end, to lend some respectability to the total, he ran out of partners as Tanus Kotlian (3/13) wiped off the tail to hand Mumbai a ticket to the semi-final.

The game was obviously set up by the duo of debutant Suved Parker (252 off 447) and the hundred making machine in Sarfaraz Khan, who peeled off a breathtaking 153 off 205 deliveries.

The duo added 267 runs for the 4th wicket, paving the way for Mumbai to rack up a mammoth 647/8 in their first innings.

Uttarakhand never got anywhere near the follow-on mark as they were knocked over for a mere 114. However, Mumbai decided to pile on the agony by batting again, and the trio of Shaw (72 off 80), Jaiswal (103 off 150) and Aditya Tare (57 off 56) made the most of the opportunity.

The fourth day was all about when, rather than will Mumbai win the match, but even their most loyal fans wouldn't have thought that it would turn out to be a stroll in the park.

Mumbai will now lock horns with Uttar Pradesh in the 2nd semi-final, starting June 14.