Jharkhand take first innings lead over Mumbai in Ranji Trophy

Mumbai: Minnows Jharkhand grabbed a handy first innings lead of 86 runs over defending champions Mumbai and then increased it substantially by reaching 176 for 5 in their second innings on day three of their Ranji Trophy Group A match here on sunday.

Jharkhand, who rode on a blistering knock of 238 by Saurabh Tiwary, dismissed the home team for 265 by wrapping up the remaining five Mumbai first innings wickets this morning, 28 minutes before lunch on the penultimate day of the game at the Wankhede Stadium. Then the visitors, who are at the bottom of the league table, ensured they did not collapse in their second essay as openers Bhavin Thakkar (39) and Rameez Nemat (32) gave them a sound start of 65 which was capitalised upon by Tiwary (38) and Ishank Jaggi, who was unbeaten on 51 made off 92 balls with a six and 7 fours. Left-handed Tiwary and Jaggi put on 75 runs in only 71 minutes for the fourth wicket before the former was caught behind off Javed Khan. Khan also dismissed wicketkeeper Pappu Singh who shouldered arms and was bowled off the last ball of the day. At stumps, the visitors were 262 runs ahead of Mumbai and stood poised to take at least three points from the game. In the morning, Mumbai`s best chance of overtaking Jharkhand`s first innings total lay with the unconquered sixth wicket pair of Hiken Shah and Suryakumar Yadav who were not out on 46 and 49 respectively in an overnight team score of 210 for 5. Both completed their centuries but then were dismissed in close succession at the same total of 236 to virtually blow away group leaders Mumbai`s hopes of taking the first innings lead. Shah was sent back for 58 when he was bowled by leg spinner Qadri and eight balls later Yadav, who made 63, edged to the slip cordon off Shiv Shankar Rao. The duo`s sixth wicket stand was worth 163 and but for it Mumbai would have conceded a bigger first innings lead. Javed Khan left three runs after, but Shardul Thakur, who made 23, managed to pull the score past the 260 mark in the company of Vishal Dabholkar who was last out for a duck after facing 34 balls in one hour`s stay. Thakur flicked at Varun Aaron and got a leading edge to be caught at mid-off while Dabholkar was sent back by rival skipper Nadeem. Aaron secured four wickets while left arm spinner Nadeem got three. Brief scores: Jharkhand 351 and 176 for 5 (Bhavin Thakkar 39, R Nemat 32, S Tiwary 38, I Jaggi batting 51; J Khan 2 for 23). Mumbai 265 (A Tare 67, H Shah 58, S Yadav 63; V Aaron 4 for 42, S Nadeem 3 for 65, S Qadri 2 for 36).