Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane showed his batting prowess as Mumbai made into the semi-final of the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after defeating Vidarbha by six wickets in a high-scoring clash in the quarter final at Alur KSCA Cricket Ground. Batting first, Vidarbha posted a total of 221/6, while Mumbai chased the target in 19.2 overs losing four wickets.
Talking about the match, Vidarbha got a flying start as Atharva Taide and Karun Nair put up an opening partnership of 60 runs in 5.3 overs. Nair got out after a quickfire 26(15) runs, while Taide top scored with a knock of 66(41) runs hitting 10 fours and a six. Apart from that, Apoorv Wankhede also scored 51(33) runs, while Shubham Dubey gave finishing touches with a fiery 43(19) with the help of three fours and as many sixes. For Mumbai, Suryansh Shedge, Atharva Ankolekar took two scalps each, while Tanush Kotian put one in his bag.
Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge finish job for Mumbai after opening stand between Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane
Chasing a winning target, Mumbai got a fiery start as Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane added 83 runs before the loss of the first wicket in seven overs. Shaw got out after scoring 49(26) runs with five fours and four sixes, while Rahane shone with the knock of 84 runs from 45 balls smashing 10 fours and three maximums. However, skipper Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav failed to score big in the quarter final.
After that, Shivam Dube and Suryansh Shedge finished the job for Mumbai as the duo put up an unbeaten partnership of 67 runs. Dube escalated quickly after a slow start with an unbeaten 37*(22) runs hitting a four and two sixes, while Shedge smashed 36*(12) and finished the game with a six on the second ball of the last over to confirm the semi-final for Mumbai. They will now face Baroda in the first semi–final of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on December 13.
