Mumbai mauls Tripura by 10 wickets, enter quarters

Mumbai trounced underdogs Tripura by 10 wickets in their Group C Ranji Trophy game on the third and penultimate day here to storm into the quarter finals of the national tournament.

The 41-time champions chased a paltry target of 63 in just 6.2 overs with young find Prithvi Shaw (50 not out) and first innings centurion Jay Bista (13 not out) taking them home. Shaw, who was at his best, laced his 26-ball innings with eight hits to the fence as Mumbai raced to a thumping victory at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai bagged seven points, including the bonus point, to leapfrog earlier leaders Andhra Pradesh (19 points) and book a knock-out berth with a tally of 21 points. The second spot in the group is a toss-up between Andhra and Madhya Pradesh.

Mumbai declared at their overnight score of 421 for 8 to take a huge 226-run first innings lead before their bowlers put up a spirited show to bundle out Tripura for 288 in their second innings. For the visitors, only Yashpal Singh (82 off 127 balls) and keeper Smith Patel (68 off 111 balls) showed some resistance, but all their lower-order batsmen failed to make a mark, making a beeline to the pavilion. At one stage in their second innings, Tripura were struggling at 84-3, but then Patel and Sharma put on a 129-run stand for the fourth wicket. While Patel brought up his fifty in 83 balls, Sharma completed his half century in 68 balls.

For the hosts, left-arm spinner Karsh Kothari (4-72) and pacer Dhawal Kulkarni (4-69) were the chief wicket takers.

BRIEF SCORES:

Tripura 195 and 288 (Yashpal Singh 82, Smit Patel 68; Karsh Kothari 4 for 72, Dhawal Kulkarni 4 for 69) lost to Mumbai 421 for 8 declared and 64 for no loss (Prithvi Shaw 50 not out, Jay Bista 13 not out). Mumbai 7 points, Tripura 0.