Ranji Trophy: Mumbai inch closer towards outright win against Jharkhand

Heavyweights Mumbai took another step closer towards an outright victory against Jharkhand on their way to the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament, in Mysuru on Friday. 

Having set a near impossible victory target of 490 on a track that is offering help for spinners, Jharkhand are 28 for one with two full days of play left and 462 runs to get. Earlier, talented Shreyas Iyer's quickfire 81 off 106 balls and captain Abhishek Nayar's 43 off 77 balls enabled Mumbai score 245 in a little over 63 overs in their second innings after Jharkhand were bowled out for 172 in their first essay.

Despite a handy 244 run lead, nayar did not enforce follow-on as his bowlers had sent down 71.5 overs and there was more than two and half days time at his disposal. Starting the day at 150 for 8, Shardul Thakur took the remaining two wickets in the morning as Jharkhand were bowled out within 8.5 overs in the day.

In their bid to score quick runs, Jay Bista (14) and Akhil Herwadkar (15) hit a flurry of boundaries before both were out in quick succession. But Iyer with nine fours and two sixes added 63 runs in only 13.5 overs with Nayar as Mumbai consolidated their position in the match.

Brief Scores: Mumbai 416 & 2nd Innings 245 in 63.1 overs (Shreyas Iyer 81, Abhishek Nayar 43, Samar Quadri 5/62) Jharkhand 1st Innings 172 (Kaushal Singh 43, Akhil Herwadkar 3/26, Iqbal Abdullah 3/50, Shardul Thakur 3/37) & 2nd Innings (Target 490) 28/1. match to continue.