Ranji Trophy 2024/25, VIDAR vs MUM 2nd semi final Match Report, February 17 - 21, 2025

Ranji Trophy 2024/25, VIDAR vs MUM 2nd semi final Match Report, February 17 – 21, 2025

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Vidarbha triumphed over Mumbai by 80 runs in the Ranji Trophy semi-final, advancing to the finals. Vidarbha scored 383 and 292, with notable contributions from Malewar (79) and Rathod (151). Mumbai managed 270 and 325, with Anand scoring 106 and Shardul Thakur 66 in a valiant effort that fell short. Vidarbha’s Harsh Dubey starred with 5-49 and 5-127, reaching 66 wickets this season, just two shy of the record. Despite a promising partnership between Shardul and Mulani, a crucial run-out shifted momentum, leading to Mumbai’s demise as Dubey sealed the win with his decisive wickets.

Vidarbha scored 383 (Malewar 79, Shorey 74, Dube 5-49) and 292 (Rathod 151, Wadkar 52, Mulani 6-85) to defeat Mumbai who made 270 (Anand 106, Rekhade 4-55, Dubey 2-68) and 325 (Shardul 66, Mulani 46, Dubey 5-127), winning by 80 runs

Shardul Thakur’s resilient half-century fell short for another Mumbai fightback as the defending champions were eliminated from the Ranji Trophy semi-final by Vidarbha, last year’s finalists, in a thrilling match that extended into the final session of the last day in Nagpur.
Leading Vidarbha’s journey to the final – having won two of their previous three Ranji finals – was left-arm spin allrounder Harsh Dubey, who achieved his seventh five-wicket haul of the season, raising his wickets tally to 66. He now stands just two wickets away from Bihar’s Ashutosh Aman’s record for the most wickets in a Ranji season.

Victory on the concluding day seemed inevitable when Mumbai lost Shivam Dube and Suryakumar Yadav early, plunging to 124 for 6. Dube was bowled by Yash Thakur when he misjudged a sharp in-ducker, while Suryakumar gloved a rising delivery from Dubey, resulting in a catch to the slips.

However, from this precarious position, Shardul stepped up as he has numerous times this season. Playing with his characteristic aggression and a clear sense of purpose, he rapidly reduced the deficit during a crucial century partnership with Shams Mulani.

At one point, midway through the second session, Vidarbha’s left-arm spinners even adopted a defensive approach, bowling wide of leg to Shardul in an attempt to frustrate him into faulty shots against their scattered field placements. Vidarbha missed a run-out chance to dismiss Shardul on 48 when Akshay Wadkar, the captain and wicketkeeper, mishandled a throw from fine leg.

Vidarbha seemed to falter briefly, but that’s when Mumbai handed them a crucial wicket in the form of the well-set Mulani, who fell short of his crease after a hesitation while trying to steal a single to square leg. Danish Malewar’s one-handed pick-up and accurate throw with just one stump to aim at perfectly hit the mark, ending a vital 103-run partnership.

Afterward, Shardul began to target boundaries, aware of the risk of being stranded, but fell to a magnificent delivery from Yash. He was caught off-guard by a short-of-a-length ball that cut back in, breaching his defense and hitting the stumps.

Mumbai’s last-wicket duo of Mohit Awasthi and Royston Dias enjoyed a rapid 52-run partnership to reduce the target to less than three figures, before an audacious reverse sweep from Awasthi resulted in him being trapped lbw, marking Dubey’s fifth wicket and sealing the victory.

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