Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Defending champions Mumbai take three points after draw with Tripura

Mumbai’s topsy-turvy defense of its Ranji Trophy crown continued with three points after their Group A encounter against Tripura ended in a draw at the Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium here on Tuesday.

A 148-run first-innings lead on day three gave Mumbai a comfortable cushion, but Ajinkya Rahane’s decision to extend the lead to 271 left the defending champions with little time to pull off an unlikely victory.

This stalemate also meant that Mumbai (fourth place) were level with Tripura (third place) on nine points.

Chasing 272 with less than 50 overs left in play, Tripura openers Bikram Kumar Das and Jeevanjot Singh prepared for what turned out to be an easy 22-over session before the captains shook hands after an hour and a half of play. remaining.

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While Mumbai would rue missing out on the six points, they also breathed a sigh of relief after being stranded earlier.

Despite losing both the first balls on Monday, nightwatchman Royston Dias signaled Mumbai’s intent by scoring the first ball of the day. But when Abhijeet Sarkar knocked out Royston and Sidhant Addhatrao in three overs, Tripura smelled blood.

Rahane and Siddhesh Lad averted failure with a stolid 64-run partnership off 152 balls for the sixth wicket and put the possibility of a result beyond the capabilities of both teams.

Rahane missed the target with a flex cover towards the boundary and took advantage of Rana Dutta’s poor lengths with two fours in the over. But his 90-ball 48 lacked the urgency the situation demanded.

With 90 minutes lost on the first day of play due to a wet pitch and Tripura’s resilience, the likelihood of either team emerging victorious ultimately proved too far off.