Shardul Thakur continued his excellent form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy, putting in yet another all-round show on Friday (January 31).
On Thursday, Thakur, who scored a hundred in the previous Ranji Trophy clash while batting at No.8, had also picked up a hat-trick against Meghalaya. Taking the new ball, Thakur reduced Meghalaya to 2-6 early, including three wickets in as many deliveries.
Ranji Trophy 2024/25 round seven, day two: Thakur’s all-round performance continues
The all-rounder, who was not picked in India’s squad for the Australia tour, has scored 322 runs in the ongoing season in eight innings. He averages 46 with one ton and two fifties, the second of which was scored at the BKC Ground in Mumbai.
Walking out at eight yet again, Mumbai who were at a comfortable 458-6, extended their lead as Thakur alongside Shams Mulani took apart the bowlers. Mulani brought up his maiden first-class ton in 68 innings, having bettered his previous high score of 97.
Thakur was at his attacking best, scoring 84 in 42 balls, his knock containing nine fours and five sixes. He struck at 200 and was dismissed just short of his third ton in red-ball cricket. Mumbai declared their innings at 671-7, giving Meghalaya a target of 585 runs.
Any hope of resistance was thwarted by Thakur, who struck with two wickets in three balls in the first over of the innings. He has now taken 20 wickets this season.
Plenty of batters fall in the nineties
The day was headlined by Virat Kohli’s failure in his Ranji comeback. The former India skipper was sent back for six in 15 balls, falling to an inswinger from Railways’ Himanshu Sangwan.
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were unable to score their respective hundreds, falling on 96 and 99. The Mumbai skipper fell to Nafees Siddique while Pujara missed out on his 67th first-class hundred. In Delhi’s game, skipper Ayush Badoni also fell for 99, while Upendra Yadav had been dismissed for 95 a day earlier in the same game.
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