Pulwama, Jan 24: A partnership of 173 runs off 234 balls between Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian helped Mumbai secure a lead of 188 runs against Jammu and Kashmir on Day-two of a crucial Ranji Trophy match at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, BKC.
Mumbai, trailing by 86 runs at the start of their second innings, had a shaky start on Friday, losing wickets at regular intervals.
Rohit Sharma, who scored just 3 in the first innings, managed 28 before falling in the second. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane, Shivam Dube, and Shreyas Iyer all departed for low scores, leaving Mumbai reeling at 101/7.
Thakur and Kotian then steadied the innings, batting for more than two sessions to forge an unbeaten 173-run stand.
By stumps, Mumbai had reached 274/7, with a lead of 188 runs and three wickets in hand. Earlier, on Day 1, Mumbai was bowled out for a mere 120, conceding a first-innings lead to J&K, who finished the day at 174/7, holding a lead of 54 runs.
On Friday, J&K resumed their innings and were bowled out for 206. For J&K, Auqib Nabi Dar was the standout bowler delivering an excellent 21-over spell that included six maidens, conceding 69 runs, and claiming three crucial wickets at an economy of 3.30. Umar Nazir Mir and Yudhvir Singh Charak provided solid support, with Mir taking 2/76 in 16 overs and Charak claiming 2/63 in 14 overs. In the first innings, Mir and Charak had been instrumental, picking up four wickets each, while Dar claimed two.
