Ranji Trophy: Opener Shantanu frustrates Mumbai – Times of India

Opener Shantanu Mishra scored a fine 89 (213b, 11×4) as Odisha finished at 250 for six on Day One of their Ranji Trophy Group D clash against Mumbai at the Narendra Modi Stadium B ground in Ahmedabad.
Towards the close of play on Thursday, Abhishek Raut (35 not out, 63b, 3×4, 1×6), who played two games for Mumbai in the 2015-16 season and started out with Maharashtra, and Rajesh Mohanty (17 not out) did well to add some useful runs for Odisha. Mumbai would be slightly worried by the fact that Saurashtra, with whom they are engaged in a close tussle to progress to the knockouts, are placed at 343 for seven against Goa. With Odisha likely to put up something in the region of 300, Mumbai need to bat well, and at good pace, to give their bowlers enough time to enforce an outright win in the second innings.
While the experienced Dhawal Kulkarni denied Mishra his hundred by trapping him lbw as the batsman was trying to play across, seamer Mohit Avasthi and off-spinning allrounder Tanush Kotian picked up two wickets each.
Avasthi took the wickets of Odisha skipper Subhranshu Senapati (lbw for 13) and Govindra Poddar (37, caught behind). Mishra added 74 for the third wicket with Poddar to bring the Odisha innings back on track after Mumbai had reduced them to 36 for two in the 17th over. Off-spinning allrounder Tanush Kotian then trapped Anshuman Rath, on his First-Class debut, lbw as the batsman played down the wrong line. Rath had captained Hong Kong from 2014 to 2018. Kotian later had Rajesh Dhupar (19) caught at forward short leg by Sachin Yadav.
After Odisha elected to bat, seamers Siddharth Raut and Avasthi provided Mumbai with the perfect start with a wicket each. Returning to the side for this match, Raut uprooted Debasish Samantray’s stumps. Avasthi then struck soon, trapping Odisha captain Subhranshu Senapati lbw.
Mumbai made two changes to their XI: Armaan Jaffer, who got his first game, was picked in place of opener Aakarshit Gomel while Raut replaced leggie Prashant Solanki.