Ranji Trophy: Avasthi, Shardul bowl Mumbai to verge of win

Enjoying their best outing this season, Mumbai seamers Mohit Avasthi (four for 48 in 14 overs) and all-rounder Shardul Thakur (three for 39 in 12 overs) shared seven wickets between themselves to help Mumbai inch closer to what would be their third outright win of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season.
On Day Three of their Elite Group A Ranji Trophy match at the Air Force ground in Palam, the defending champions, buoyed by Avasthi and Thakur's strikes, bowled out Services for 182 in 62 overs. Chasing just 135, Mumbai were 24 for one at stumps and need only 111 more on the fourth and final day.
However, they would still rue missing out on the bonus point, having missed out on a 10-wicket win when first innings centurion Ayush Mhatre was bowled by seamer Varun Choudhary for just four (nine balls). Angkrish Raghuvanshi (13 batting) and Sidhesh Lad (7 not out) were at the crease.
Having taken four for 46 in the first innings-his best spell so far this season-Thakur, with his tail up, prised out openers Shubham Rohilla (10) and Aanshul Gupta (4) in his first two overs. Post lunch, he then trapped Services captain Rajat Paliwal (12) lbw. Having taken seven wickets for 80 in the match so far, the 33-year-old, ignored for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, has served a reminder to the selectors about his ability, while also showcasing his form ahead of the IPL auction in Riyadh later this month.
Avasthi, who was Mumbai's last season's highest wicket-taker, meanwhile, took Pulkit Narang's (35) scalp, and then mopped up the tail, taking the last three wickets in the 62nd over. Recalled for this match, left-arm seamer Junaid Khan, who made his debut earlier this season in the Irani Cup tie, castled Ravi Chauhan (23), while spinners Shams Mulani and Himanshu Singh took a wicket apiece.
In the morning, Mumbai managed to bag a crucial 48-run first innings lead thanks to the efforts of tailenders Mohit Avasthi (25, 51b, 3x4) and Himanshu Singh (29 not out, 63b, 3x4). The duo's ninth wicket partnership of 34 ended when Avasthi was caught and bowled by Services seamer Nitin Yadav, who finished with three for 61 in 15 overs.