Ranji Trophy: Mumbai, Maharashtra out of quarterfinals after Brabourne thriller – Times of India

First innings scores tied but drawn encounter sees Andhra and Saurashtra qualify for last 8
MUMBAI: Forty-one-time champions Mumbai were knocked out of the Ranji Trophy after they failed to win the final Elite Group B tie against Maharashtra on Friday. The match was interestingly poised as both teams had a chance to proceed to the quarterfinals, provided they scored an outright win on the final day. The situation had developed after both teams were dismissed for 384 on Day 3.
Maharashtra went on the defensive early on Day 4 after losing four wickets inside the first hour’s play at the Brabourne Stadium.
A stubborn 98-run stand for theseventh wicket between Azim Kazi (75) and wicketkeeper-batsman Saurabh Nawale (47) batted Mumbai out of the match. The visitors were eventually bowled out minutes before tea, leaving Mumbai a stiff victory target of 253 from 28 overs.
The hosts did try and make a match out of it but in doing so lost their way and ended up with 195 for six. Young left-hander Divyaansh Saxena slammed a quickfire 62 (48b, 3×4, 2×6) and Suved Parkar made 38 (27b, 7×4). The draw with tied totals in the first innings meant that neither Maharashtra (26 points) nor Mumbai (25) could overtake Andhra (26) since both teams got only a point each from the game.
The latter trounced Assam by innings and 95 runs on Thursday for a vital bonus point. With Saurashtra losing to TN, there was a three-way tie at the top in terms of points (26) for the two knockout spots. Saurashtra and AP edged out Maharashtra for scoring more bonus points. Maharashtra captain Ankit Bawne was left taken aback by the result.
“I think the BCCI needs to look at the points system. If a bonus point is so crucial, then people will start making pitches where the games will get over in two days. I think if there is a tie in the points, then we should look at head-to-head. Whoever has won, should proceed,” Bawne said. Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane said that more than bonus point, there’s a need to dock teams a point for not completing 90 overs on Day 4.
Rahane had a lot to say when asked if the youngsters in his team valued the lion’s crest on their chest. “I am disappointed that we could not qualify. This bunch takes red-ball cricket seriously,” said Rahane.
Brief Scores: Maharashtra 384 and 252 (A Kazi 75; S Mulani 4/81) drew with Mumbai 384 (P Pawar 145, T Kotian 93; P Dhade 3/80) and 195/6 (Divyaansh 62)
QF line-up: From January 31 Bengal vs Jharkhand; Saurashtra vs Punjab; Karnataka vs Uttarakhand; Madhya Pradesh vs Andhra Pradesh