Mumbai Draws ended with 393 (Tamor 115, Jaiswal 100, Karan 4-46) and 533 on 4 December (Jaiswal 181, Jaffer 127, Prince 2-92). Uttar Pradesh 181 (Mavi 48, Deshpande 3-34, Kotian 3-35) – Mumbai qualified for the final on a first innings lead
Mumbai produced an all-round performance in a dull draw against Uttar Pradesh at the Just Cricket Academy, eventually qualifying for the final on the basis of a first-innings lead. They will now take on Madhya Pradesh – who defeated Bengal by 174 runs in the second semi-final – in Bengaluru from June 22.
After initially leading 213, Mumbai’s overall lead was 746 runs until they decided to declare their second innings at 533 on the final afternoon. Although Mumbai had made it to the final, it was certain at the stumps on the fourth day itself, as long as they were already 662 in front.
The chief architect of Mumbai’s premier performance was young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored two centuries in the match with scores of 100 and 181 – his career-best first-class scores, which included 23 fours and a six. That means three consecutive centuries for Jaiswal in the tournament, after scoring 103 in the second innings of the quarter-final against Uttarakhand.
Wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore – who came in place of injured Aditya Tare – was also the other contributor with the Mumbai bat – using the opportunity and scoring 115 runs in his first match of the season. In his second innings, skipper Prithvi Shaw played an entertaining 64 while Armaan Jaffer contributed 127 runs, his second century in three matches this season.
After scoring 393 in the first innings when Uttar Pradesh bowled in, Mumbai’s bowlers scrambled to bowl out the opposition for 180. Fast bowlers Tushar Deshpande and Mohit Awasthi and off-spinner Tanush Kotian took three wickets each. If not for a late resistance from Shivam Mavi, who was two runs short of a half-century, he would have turned long ago.
The game began just after lunch on Day 5, as Sarfaraz Khan also continued his rich form this season with an unbeaten 59 in the second innings after 40 in the first innings, while Shams Mulani scored twin half-centuries in the game. .
Uttar Pradesh were bowled out on the third day, and with Mumbai’s already heavy lead in their pocket, they continued to pile on runs instead of implementing a follow-on. Already champions for a record 41 times, Mumbai now has a chance to add to that tally at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
