It was self-destruction, self-destruction throughout. Mumbai managed to brace through the difficult period, but gave it away when Gujarat were down. As many as five wickets were gifted away to the second-time finalist. Was it panic or was it just being rash? Not sure. But Gujarat have enjoyed the fruits of Mumbai's attempt to dominate. Chandrakant Pandit, Mumbai's coach, would be furious and a few harsh words would be coming the way of some of the players. But Mumbai has been there and put themselves in such a position time and again this season - let go of the momentum when they are on top and then play its best cricket when they are down and nearly out. To add to that, they would have hoped to end the day with one wicket in their kitty. Shardul Thakur started Mumbai's response with a peach. The ball started from off and moved just enough to take the edge of Samit Gohel's bat before Shaw, at first slip, spilled the chance. They saw off the one over to put two runs on the board.Will they be able to do that in this match as well remains the question.
Ranji Trophy 2016-17 Final, Mumbai vs Gujarat, Day 1 - Live blog
That's it from us folks! Do join us tomorrow at 0900 IST for the second day. This is turning out to be a fascinating contest.
When the season started, there were apprehensions, there was hope and here were are now for the grand finale. The final act. Mumbai, the mighty Mumbai, are in the final.Again! And one thing that's expected is a tough fight from them. They know how to win crucial moments.
On the other hand, we have Gujarat. The last time the played in the final was in 1950-51, in Indore, where they lost to Holkar. Generations have passed where they haven't experienced what's it like to play in the Ranji Trophy final. As they say, the most expensive opportunity is the one that's missed. Gujarat players certainly wouldn't want that.
Unfortunately, by the end of it - irrespective of how good or bad the match turns out to be, 11 players will know what it means to lose a Ranji Trophy final - to be so close, yet not have their hands on the prestigious trophy.
Here's our full preview.
We'll have to toss details as soon as we can. Stay tuned!
10 Jan 2017
10 Jan 2017
10 Jan 2017
Gujarat have won the toss and has asked Mumbai to bat first. A green carpet has been laid, will the Gujarat bowlers be able to exploit the conditions well? Team updates in a bit.
Here are the teams:
Mumbai (Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav, Aditya Tare(w/c), Siddhesh Lad, Shreyas Iyer, Akhil Herwadkar, Abhishek Nayar, Vishal Dabholkar, Balwinder Sandhu, Shardul Thakur, Vijay Gohil
Gujarat (Playing XI): Samit Gohel, Priyank Panchal, Bhargav Merai, Parthiv Patel(w/c), Manpreet Juneja, Rujul Bhatt, Chirag Gandhi, Rush Kalaria, RP Singh, Hardik Patel, Chintan Gaja
And while we wait, how about a video on Top 5 Indian players in 2016 from Harsha Bhogle?
After a maiden from RP Singh to start, Rush Kalaria will bowl the second over. There's an interesting story about him and here's how it goes -
September 16, 2015.
Bangladesh A are in India to play three One-Day matches, one match against Karnataka and one unofficial Test against India A. Considering these were early days in Rahul Dravid's career as India A coach, the series generated a lot of buzz.
The first match was being played in Bangalore. India A had huffed and puffed to 227 for 6 after being reduced to 125 for 5. In the death overs, Rush Kalaria started flaying the bowlers. His assault lifted India A to 322 for 7. He ended with an unbeaten 34-ball 56. Soon after, Kalaria was trending in India.
"Okay, need to know more about Rush Kalaria," read a tweet from Harsha Bhogle. Aakash Chopra too, was impressed with his lower-order exploits.
But, here's the twist. That's not what had actually transpired. Instead of Kalaria doing all the hitting, it was Rishi Dhawan, the Himachal Pradesh allrounder, who was putting the Bangladesh A bowlers under the pump. The BCCI scorers at the venue had made a mistake by choosing Kalaria instead of Dhawan, sending Twitter into a frenzy.
Kalaria, the left-arm pacer from Gujarat, was an anonymous name but shot to stardom after the error. As things settled down, he slipped into anonymity once more and didn't feature in a single game in that series.
Full story here.
Mumbai and Gujarat selectors in the house. Can't spot the national selectors though, says Aayush who is at the venue.
WOES: "Even as there is no money coming from the board, all the ex-office bearers are there (even on the practice day), a sight often absent in Ranji matches. One MPCA guy says they are yet to get the money for the Test match. So far, they have spent Rs 2 crore on their own," says a MPCA official.
After some wayward bowling, RP Singh has come up with a peach and dismissed Herwadkar. Full and straight, the seam pointing towards the leg slip, comes back in just a touch after pitching and trap the batsman in front. He stands there dejected. He stays out at his crease for a few seconds before leaving. Indore crowd, a few people that have turned up as well, are happy.
Mumbai 13 for 1.
Prithvi Shaw is playing positively and has reached 19 off 22. What a delight! He's just 17 and playing with an impressive intent. Shaw is pulling the loyalties of the crowd towards Mumbai with his superb shots. Mumbai 24 for 1.
"Tamil Nadu made a bad declaration in the semifinals. They set Mumbai a 25-odd run target, which would have never won them the match. Had they scored something in excess of 300, Mumbai might have considered defending," says Milind Rege. His statement makes sense because Mumbai is at its worst when it is left with a decision between attack and defend. That is exactly how they lost the Irani Trophy last year after dominating for four days.
Full and wide outside off, Iyer lunges towards it and reaches out for the ball. Gets an outside edge and the balls nestles in Parthiv's gloves. Mumbai 54 for 2. Suryakumar Yadav is the next man in.
Shaw gets a life. Poor, poor effort from Samit Gohil. Full and wide outside off, he flashes at that one. The ball flies straight to first slip but Gohil, from second slip, gets a hand to it and makes a mess of it. Have to say, lack of awareness from the first slip fielder as well. The rebound was well within his reach but he was too busy watching Gohil. Shaw dropped on 30. He seems to be having some fans here. They shout 'come on, Prithvi' after he is dropped.
Mumbai 46 for 1.
Shaw gets to his maiden first-class fifty. After his century in the last game, he's making it big. Showing why he's rated so highly in the Mumbai setup. Mumbai 72 for 2.
Poor shot from Shaw but he gets a reprieve. Length ball outside off and he goes for the cut. The ball bounces a touch more and goes in the air towards the point fielder. He dives forward but the catch but the ball bounces in front of hi. He continues to bat on 66. Mumbai 89 for 2.
They all braced the winter chills. The crowd was there. It was lively and loud. Gujarat failed to take advantage of the conditions after winning the toss. There was assistance for the seamers, but they pitched a bit too short and didn't reap the kind of rewards they would've liked. Prithvi Shaw continued his good form, got a life and has made the opposition pay. Shreyas Iyer will be distraught with the kind of shot he played to get out. He was looking good for much more than 14
Gujarat, entering the final after 66 years, have looked a bit desperate in the big match. There were some excessive appealing, over-excitement after taking a catch on the bounce, desperate attempt to take a catch that was meant for someone else and the need to put Mumbai on the backfoot with pace. A bit of patience and calming down should help.
Poor call from Suryakumar Yadav. He has thrown the youngster under the bus. Pushes the ball to cover and takes off. No run there. Shaw had no chance. Poor throw again but Parthiv does well. They have been running dangerously throughout the innings. Shaw has been going for too many risky singles. This time, however, Suryakumar Yadav's mistake lets Gujarat get a breakthrough.
Mumbai 106 for 3.
There is a big photo of the legendary CK Nayudu in his grey hair, in the stadium. Milind Rege recounts a story. "In the mid-50s, in the one of the matches between Mumbai and Holkars, Nayudu, who was 62 then, got hit by a bouncer on his face from GS Ramchand. He lost two teeth and bled a bit, but wasn't ruffled. He shook his head, picked the two teeth, put it in his pocket had some water and continued to play."
One bring two. As cliched as it sounds, it's true. After Shaw, Aditya Tare falls now. Flighted delivery from Hardik Patel and the Mumbai captain gets an inside edge. The ball lobs to first slip before it's caught. Mumbai in the middle of a wobble now.
Score 130 for 4.
Suryakumar Yadav gets one life now. Length ball and pushed back at the bowler, RP Singh was slow to pick that up and it goes past him. A lot of chatter around how "Now Mumbai's batting starts" has been going around after Tare's dismissal.One guy even says. "Ab Nayar khelega. Acha ho gaya crisis ho gaya. Warna Nayar nahi khelta."
Mumbai 142 for 4.
India A are taking on England XI. MS Dhoni is leading the side. Live commentary of that game here.
Huge wicket just before Tea for Gujarat. Length ball and Suryakumar Yadav wanted to push it to the on side. Extra bounce again and the leading edge lobs to mid-off. No luck this time. He's dismissed for 57.
Mumbai 169 for 5.
Mumbai have lost six. Short ball down the leg side by RP Singh, Lad goes for the pull and gets a nick. He isn't happy but is given caught behind. That's Tea as well. Have to say Gujarat on top. Mumbai after the second session have been reduced to 179 for 6.
Here's what Aayush has to say from the venue: "Gujarat looked a lot more settled post lunch and allowed Mumbai to make their mistakes. Err.. Suryakumar Yadav to make mistakes. One error costed Mumbai Shaw's wicket, the second one costed him his own - a half hearted pull.Mumbai still have Nayar in the middle to lead the recovery. But one more wicket will help Gujarat enter Mumbai's tail. A khadoos tail."
Another one. Rujul Bhatt gets one to go straight and it takes the outside edge of Sandhu's bat. The ball is gobbled up by the second slip but the batsman refuses to walk. After plenty of replays, he is eventually given out. Mumbai 202 for 7.
Shardul Thakur doesn't last long. Length ball, doesn't spin and take the top of the bat before lobbing to second slip. Second wicket for Bhatt. Mumbai 205 for 8.
Abhishek Nayar falls for 35 and that brings an end to Mumbai's innings. Though Prithvi Shaw stroked a pleasing 71 but a clinical performance from Gujarat bowlers meant that Mumbai ended with a modest total. RP Singh, Chintan Gaja and Rujul Bhatt picked up two wickets each. They are a happy bunch as they walk off but the batsmen need to do the job now. Game on!
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