Mumbai: Defending champions Mumbai were knocked out of Ranji Trophy by minnows Maharashtra, who showed tremendous resilience to record a come-from-behind eight-wicket victory here today for a place in the Ranji Trophy semifinals.
Set a target of 252 to chase for only their third outright victory in the long-running competition over the 40-time winners, Maharashtra rode on an unbeaten century from Kedar Jadhav (120 not out) and his superb 215-run unconquered third-wicket stand with 19-year-old Vijay Zol (91 not out) to turn the tables on the home team on the fourth day of the five-day match.
Jadhav, who made 51 in the first innings and also crossed 1000 runs for the season during this excellent knock, faced 144 balls and hit 14 fours and three sixes in his 239-minute knock. It was the latter's fifth century of the season and ninth in his first-class career since debuting in 2007-08.
Zol faced 180 balls and struck 13 fours in his 258-minute unbeaten knock. Maharashtra's victory came 10 minutes before tea when Jadhav fittingly swung Thakur for a four.
Maharashtra would meet the winners of the other quarterfinal between Bengal and Railways in the semi-finals scheduled at Indore's Holkar Stadium from January 18-22.
It was a great come-from-behind win too for Maharashtra as they had conceded a vital first innings lead of 122 runs to Mumbai before storming their way back into the game yesterday when their pace trio of Anupam Sanklecha, Samad Fallah and Shrikant Mundhe bundled out the home team for a paltry 129 in
the second innings.
