Gujarat did the hard yards after choosing to field on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final and shot out Mumbai for a modest 228 at the Holkar Stadium on Tuesday.
Equipped with limited resources in the absence of fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and left-arm spinning all-rounder Axar Patel, Gujarat’s three seamers, a specialist left-arm spinner and a part-time finger spinner showed the inclination to confront Mumbai’s batting strength with enthusiasm.
After the fall of Siddhesh Lad to a dubious decision by umpire Anil Chaudhary at tea, Mumbai virtually crawled, before Abhishek Nayar hit some bold shots to get 21 runs for the last wicket.
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Mumbai had a chance to hit back with a wicket in the closing minutes when Gujarat opener Samit Gohil nicked the first ball he faced from Shardul Thakur, but Prithvi Shaw — the highest scorer for his side — put down a sitter at first slip.
Seamers with ability to extract bounce and the skill to get sideways movement of the pitch have largely met with success here and more so with centre-plot here having undergone a change with high percentage of red soil content in it.
Even then it was a courageous decision by the Gujarat skipper Parthiv Patel to put the opposition in that had a new opening pair in Shaw and left-handed Akhil Herwadkar. Initially the pitch did not seem to offer much for the experienced left-arm seamer Rudra Pratap Singh and also Rush Kalaria, also a left-arm seamer.
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But what stood out though was the determination and commitment they showed right through their spells to keep the Mumbai batsmen under check and strike at regular intervals.
After an ordinary first half an hour, R.P. Singh squared up Herwadkar, forced him to whip across and won a leg before decision from umpire Nitin Menon. Thereafter a first bowling change resulted in the exit of Shreyas Iyer owing to poor shot selection against medium pacer Chintan Gaja.
The fall of Shreyas in the first ball of the 18th over was a big breakthrough and Gujarat took control of the day’s proceedings from then onwards. Shaw made an attractive half-century, executing some well-timed on drives. He was dropped on 24 by Gohil off Gaja, but during his 164-minute stay, he showed he has the calibre to succeed in First Class cricket.
The third-wicket stand between Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav, who hit seven 4s and a six to score a half-century, produced 52 runs. But Shaw’s dismissal put Gujarat on top.
Lad made the mistake of throwing his wrists at a bouncer and paid the price for playing an indiscreet shot, but the decision given by umpire Chaudhary was questionable; there was day light between bat and ball.
Full marks to Gujarat’s bowlers for keeping Mumbai under pressure. R.P. Singh bowled 21 overs with dexterity, Kalaria tried hard and Gaja sustained a good line and length. And once the main batsmen had been sent back to the pavilion, Bhatt chipped in with two wickets.
Gujarat excelled in the bowling and to a great extent in the fielding department.
The scores:
Mumbai — 1st innings: Prithvi Shaw run out 71, Akhil Herwadkar lbw b R.P. Singh 4, Shreyas Iyer c Parthiv b Gaja 14, Suryakumar Yadav c Hardik b Gaja 57, Aditya Tare c Bhatt b Hardik 4, Siddhesh Lad c Parthiv b R.P. Singh 23, Abhishek Nayar c Parthiv b Kalaria 35, B.S. Sandhu Jr. c Merai b Bhatt 6, Shardul Thakur c Merai b Bhatt 0, Vishal Dabholkar run out 3, Vijay Gohil (not out) 0; Extras (lb-9, nb-1, w-1): 11; Total (in 83.5 overs): 228.
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-54, 3-106, 4-128, 5-169, 6-179, 7-202, 8-204, 9-207.
Gujarat bowling: R.P. Singh 21-6-48-2, Rush Kalaria 20.5-5-66-1, Chintan Gaja 16-6-46-2, Hardik Patel 21-4-54-1, Rujul Bhatt 5-1-5-2.
Gujarat — 1st innings: Samit Gohil (batting) 2, Priyank Panchal (batting) 0; Total (for no loss in one over): 2.
Mumbai bowling: Shardul Thakur 1-0-2-0.
Toss: Gujarat.