Ranji Trophy semifinals: Danish Malewar, Dhruv Shorey hit 70s but Mumbai fight back against Vidarbha

His fears came true when he took his front foot out to left-arm spinner Shams Mulani, only managing to edge the ball to Mumbai wicketkeeper Akash Anand. It was Malewar’s second successive dismissal in the 70s after making 75 in the quarterfinal against Tamil Nadu.

However, Vidarbha would be in a happy situation after a good day against the defending champions at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha. Malewar’s solid knock combined resilience and skill, and his team will now eye a substantial first-innings total. Vidarbha has arguably been the best team on show this Ranji season, and kept Mumbai’s bowlers honest throughout the day.

Malewar’s father Vishnu, a cricket fan, had decided when he got married that if he had a son, he would make him a cricketer. But being from a lower-middle-class background, Vishnu knew it would be tough.

“My father always wanted me to be a cricketer and I got into an academy when I was seven,. He faced a lot of difficulties but ensured that my cricketing needs were taken care of. There were people who used to give me bats, pads and gloves when I made runs during my junior days. Money only started coming in post my under- 19 days,” Malewar says.

Despite crossing the 300-run mark with half their wickets intact, Vidarbha will be disappointed at how none of their batsmen made a big individual score. Everyone got a start and looked good. The pitch, on a few occasions, surprised with some turn but there was nothing to trouble the hosts on the first day of the game.

Leaving runs out there

There were three partnerships of 50 or more, but the 78-run fourth-wicket stand between Malewar and Karun Nair (45) was the highest of the day. The latter, in the midst of a purple patch, would rue his inability to make another big score.

Opener Dhruv Shorey was the other major scorer for Vidarbha, scoring 74 with a steady and composed approach. He laid the foundation for his team, and his ability to build partnerships was the key. Left-arm seamer Royston Dias got opener Atharv Taide when the total was 39. He looked in two minds whether to leave the ball or play it, and his indecision only resulted in the ball kissing his gloves on its way to the wicketkeeper. Vidarbha promoted Parth Rekhade, and he put on 54 with Shorey.

Shorey hit three three consecutive boundaries off pacer Mohit Awasthi. Shivam Dube, who was probably the lone Mumbai bowler getting the ball to land on the right spot, broke the stand when Suryakumar Yadav took a low catch to dismiss Rekhade (23).

This was the trend throughout the day. Whenever Vidarbha seemed to be getting on top, they would lose a wicket. Shorey was in good form and managed to find the sweet spot of his bat on a regular basis. He and Malewar managed to get 51 runs stand for the third wicket before Mulani got the opener caught at slip.

In a crucial game like the Ranji Trophy semifinal, it’s vital for at least one batsman to play a long knock. Vidarbha’s inability to do so on the first day may come back to haunt them.

Nair’s innings showcased his skill and determination, before he was dismissed by Dubey. The season he has been having, Mumbai will be happy to get him for under 50, especially as they also managed to get Malewar in the final hour of the day’s play.

At stumps, Yash Rathod and captain Akshay Wadkar were batting on 47 and 13 respectively. Mumbai will hope they can get some early breakthroughs on the second day or else they could be staring at a sizable first-innings total.

Brief scores: Vidarbha 308/5 in 88 overs (Danish Malewar 79, Dhruv Shorey 74) vs Mumbai