Ranji Trophy semifinal | MP rides on Mantri’s century to surge ahead against Vidarbha

Madhya Pradesh’s Hianshu Mantri plays in action during the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Vidarbha, in Nagpur on March 3, 2024.
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Himanshu Mantri’s century (126, 265b, 12×4, 1×6) served as the archetype of the steely resolve often associated with the longest format and laid the platform for Madhya Pradesh to pull ahead against Vidarbha on the second day of the first Ranji Trophy semifinal at the VCA Stadium (Civil Lines) here on Sunday.

The southpaw was handed a reprieve on 39 made the most of it, forging innings-steering partnerships with Sagar Solanki and Saransh Jain.

Vidarbha, chasing a deficit of 82 runs, lost Atharva Taide, who was given leg-before while shouldering arms to a delivery that seamed back in. Dhruv Shorey and Akshay Wakhare took the home side to 13 for one at stumps.

The day started with the defiance of Mantri and Harsh Gawali but turned on its head after Vidarbha pacers exploited the two-paced nature of the wicket. Umesh Yadav lured Mantri into fishing outside off, only for Karun Nair to spill the chance at first slip.

If it had the worst end of the weather on the first day, the aid from the surface on the second was reparation of sorts for Vidarbha. Umesh and Yash Thakur combined in the final hour of the morning session to send MP from 81 for one to 93 for four.

MP’s resistance was cracked when Thakur’s length ball skidded on and trapped Gawali in front. Umesh cleaned up Shubham Sharma before Thakur drew Venkatesh Iyer plumb in front to pull Vidarbha back into the fray.

Solanki and Mantri added 52 runs for the fifth wicket before a mix up led to the former’s run out. Mantri took matters into his own hands, dancing down to hoist Wakhare for four and six off consecutive deliveries before getting to his third First-Class century of the season in 210 balls.

Saransh stepped out against Wakhare to loft the off-spinner down the ground. But the tweaker had the last laugh when his length delivery held off the surface, causing Saransh to chip to covers and thus ending their stand for 73 runs.

Mantri perished when wicketkeeper Akshay Wadkar premeditated his sweep and pouched him down the leg side.

The scores:

Vidarbha —1st innings: 170.

Madhya Pradesh —1st innings: Himanshu Mantri c Wadkar b Wakhare 126, Yash Dubey c Wadkar b Umesh 11, Harsh Gawali lbw b Thakur 25, Shubham Sharma b Umesh 1, Venkatesh Iyer lbw b Thakur 0, Sagar Solanki run out Thakur 26, Saransh Jain c Mokhade b Wakhare 30, Anubhav Agarwal b Sarwate 6, Kumar Kartikeya b Thakur 6, Avesh Khan (not out) 7, Kulwant Khejroliya c (sub) Wath b Umesh 4; Extras (lb-7, nb-1) 8; Total (in 94.3 overs): 252.

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-81, 3-86, 4-93, 5-145, 6-218, 7-231, 8-235, 9-246.

Vidarbha bowling: Umesh 19.3-4-40-3, Thakare 19-6-38-0, Thakur 20-3-51-3, Sarvate 15-3-48-1, Wakhare 21-5-68-2.

Vidarbha— 2nd innings: Atharva Taide lbw Avesh 2, Dhruv Shorey (not out) 10, Akshay Wakhare (not out) 1; Extras 0; Total (for one wicket in four overs): 13.

Fall of wicket: 1-12.

Madhya Pradesh bowling: Avesh 2-0-2-1, Venkatesh 1-0-11-1, Anubhav 1-1-0-0.