Parth Rekhade’s three-wicket haul helps Vidarbha dominate Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semifinal. His key wickets put Vidarbha in a strong position.
In the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 semifinal between Vidarbha and Mumbai, Parth Rekhade emerged as a key player for Vidarbha with a significant bowling performance. Vidarbha dominated the second day of the match in Nagpur, and Rekhade’s contribution was instrumental in their strong position against Mumbai.
Rekhade’s Impactful Performance
Parth Rekhade led the Vidarbha bowling attack, securing three crucial wickets that helped to restrict Mumbai’s scoring. His medium-pace bowling created problems for the Mumbai batsmen, contributing significantly to Vidarbha’s control over the game. By the end of the second day, Vidarbha led by 195 runs, highlighting Rekhade’s impact on the match’s proceedings.
Key Wickets and Turning Points
Rekhade’s spell included a triple-wicket maiden, a period where he dismissed Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and another batsman in quick succession. Suryakumar Yadav was caught at silly point after chopping the ball onto his pads, while Dube was caught at first slip. This performance was crucial in dismantling Mumbai’s batting lineup and preventing them from building substantial partnerships.
Mumbai’s Struggle Against Vidarbha’s Bowling
Mumbai’s innings saw them struggle to form significant partnerships, with Akash Anand being a notable exception. Anand scored an unbeaten 67, providing some resistance against Vidarbha’s dominant bowling attack. However, he received limited support from his teammates, as Vidarbha’s bowlers consistently took wickets.
Other Notable Performances
While Rekhade stood out, other bowlers like Yash Thakur also contributed by taking key wickets. For Mumbai, Shivam Dube’s five-wicket haul was a bright spot, but it wasn’t enough to shift the momentum away from Vidarbha. The Mumbai batsmen found it difficult to score boundaries, further emphasizing Vidarbha’s control.
Vidarbha’s Overall Strategy
Vidarbha’s strategy involved building a substantial first-innings lead and then putting pressure on Mumbai’s batsmen through disciplined bowling. The Vidarbha bowlers consistently took wickets, preventing Mumbai from establishing any significant partnerships. This approach allowed Vidarbha to maintain control over the game and put themselves in a strong position to advance to the next stage of the tournament.
Sources: https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/133491/vidarbha-in-command-despite-dubes-five-fer
https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/domestic/ranji-trophy-live-score-day-3-semifinals-updates-highlights-scorecard-streaming-info-vidarbha-vs-mumbai-kerala-gujarat/article69236736.ece
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/ranji-trophy-2024-25-1445824/gujarat-vs-kerala-1st-semi-final-1445954/live-match-blog