Ranji Trophy: Hyderabad stares down the barrel as Mumbai closes in on innings victory

Chasing a mammoth total against a spirited Mumbai side, any flickers of resistance Hyderabad showed late on the second day of their Ranji Trophy clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium were snuffed out early on Saturday.

A disappointing batting collapse has pushed the home side on the brink of a second defeat this season.

Akhil Herwadkar breached K. Himateja’s defence with the first ball of the morning to end a 100-run partnership with Rahul Singh. From there on, the burden fell majorly on Rahul to limit the damage and at least attempt to trim the deficit.

Still recovering from a blow sustained the previous day that dislocated a finger on his right hand, he understandably proceeded fairly gingerly, but not for long, undone by Himanshu Singh’s off-break four short of a hundred.

Rohit Rayudu and C.V. Milind’s attempt to rebuild yielded a 43-run stand, the second-highest of the innings. Himanshu’s diving catch to dismiss Milind triggered the start of the end, with the lower-order adding just 53 runs. With a massive 294-run deficit, Mumbai was happy to enforce the follow-on.

Onkar Tarmale, replacing an injured Atharva Ankolekar, ensured the openers never settled, rattling Aman Rao’s stumps to draw first blood.

If Sarfaraz Khan’s double century had put Mumbai firmly in control, his brother Musheer pushed the side closer to its fourth win of the campaign and a place in the knockouts.

At the stroke of tea and in his first over of the day, Musheer’s turn outfoxed Rahul, with Sarfaraz taking a sharp catch at first slip. In his very next over, Musheer uprooted Abhirath Reddy’s middle stump.

P. Nitish Reddy attempted to counterattack, but a mistimed stroke gifted a catch to Mohit Avasthi at backward square leg. By stumps, Hyderabad, trailing by 127 runs, found itself three wickets away from a thrashing.

The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: 560.

Hyderabad —1st innings: Abhirath Reddy b Tushar 4, Aman Rao b Himanshu 7, Rahul Singh b Himanshu 96, K. Himateja b Akhil 40, Rahul Radesh c Akash Anand b Mohit 13, P. Nitish Reddy c Akash Anand b Mohit 6, Rohit Rayudu c Akash Parkar b Tushar 37, C.V. Milind c Himanshu b Onkar 20, Nitin Sai Yadav b Musheer 18, Mohammed Siraj c Tushar b Himanshu 7, Rakshann Readdi (not out) 4; Extras (b-4, lb-6, nb-4, w-1): 15; Total (in 82.2 overs): 267.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-38, 3-138, 4-159, 5-165, 6-171, 7-214, 8-234, 9-251.

Mumbai bowling: Tushar 15.2-2-68-2, Himanshu 27-10-39-3, Mohit 14-1-54-2, Akash 7-2-20-0, Musheer 12-2-49-0, Akhil 2-1-7-1, Onkar 5-1-20-1.

Hyderabad — 2nd innings: Aman Rao b Onkar 13, Abhirath Reddy b Musheer 20, Rahul Singh c Sarfaraz b Musheer 33, Rohit Rayudu c Akhil b Mohit 7, K. Himateja c Akash b Mohit 43, Rahul Radesh c & b Mohit 2, P. Nitish Reddy c Mohit b Musheer 0, C.V. Milind (batting) 30; Extras (b-5, lb-9, nb-2, w-2): 18; Total (for seven wkts. in 39.3 overs): 166.

Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-70, 3-73, 4-102, 5-106, 6-111, 7-166.

Mumbai bowling: Tushar 8-1-29-0, Onkar 6-1-26-1, Mohit 6.3-2-31-3, Himanshu 5-0-20-0, Musheer 12-3-38-3, Akhil 2-0-8-0.