Ranji Trophy: Makeshift opener Hardik Tamore’s ton against Baroda makes Mumbai almost certain of semis spot | Cricket News

AS the Mumbai’s second innings against Baroda was about to resume, the dressing room was in two minds about who should open after Prithvi Shaw suffered a bruise on his nails while taking a catch. It was indeed Shaw who recommended Hardik Tamore’s name to face the new ball. The latter was a regular opener in junior cricket, but had to bat lower down the order for the senior side.
He hadn’t had a great season so far, but came to the party with a hundred as Mumbai put one foot in the Ranji Trophy semi-finals courtesy a 415-run win with one second-innings wicket in hand going into the final day.
“Captain (Ajinkya Rahane) and coach asked me whether I will be able to open, especially after fielding for more than 110 overs. I said yes. I didn’t want to let go of the opportunity. After all, I was an opener before,” Tamore said.
Hardik Tamore’s seizes his chance
Coming into this game, he had a highest score of 22 against Assam in three Ranji Trophy games. Time was running out and so was the patience in the Mumbai dressing room.
He had scored a 248-ball 57 in the first innings which had boosted his confidence but Tamore knew if he had to cement his place in the side, he needed big runs, and couldn’t say no to the offer to open the innings.
the end of the fourth day of the quarter-final against Baroda, Tamore had repaid the team’s faith. He hit 114 as Mumbai all but secured a semi-final spot. His innings, along with Shaw’s 87 off 93 balls, have put Mumbai in the driver’s seat.
Mumbai started the day on 21 for 1 and lost nightwatchman Mohit Avasthi soon. Musheer Khan and Tamore ensured that Mumbai didn’t suffer more immediate damage before left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt got rid of Khan.
It was Shaw and Tamore, who have played together since their under-14 days, who cemented Mumbai’s position. They added 124 runs for the fourth wicket. Shaw, especially, was tough to handle for Baroda bowlers. He managed to find gaps at will and scored at a pace which caused Baroda to go on the back-foot. As long as he was around, the Mumbai dressing room knew that runs would come at a decent pace.
Bhatt, who had a seven-wicket haul in the first innings, snared as many in the second as well, and had a plan for Shaw. He bowled slowly, gave the ball air and let it turn after landing. He knew Shaw would try to play across the line and the batsman fell into the trap, Baroda skipper Vishnu Solanki taking a running catch. Bhatt would have got Rahane on the first ball had Shashwwat Rawat managed to take one low to his left.
But it didn’t matter. Three balls later, Rahane went back to cut but the ball eluded the bat to hit the timber, as the former India captain’s lack of runs continued. He has had only one fifty in the last seven Ranji games.
Shams Mulani hung around with Tamore, before the latter was trapped in front Mahesh Pitiya and five overs later Suryansh Shedge was dismissed Bhatt.
Shardul Thakur slammed a four over mid-on but was caught going for a repeat. Mulani, who batted beautifully for his 54, was the last wicket to fall on the day.
Brief Scores: Mumbai 384 & 379 for 9 (Hardik Tamore 114, Prithvi Shaw 87, Shams Mulani 54; Bhargav Bhatt 7 for 142) vs Baroda 348.