Tailenders Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande entered the record books with a century each but it was their team’s slender first-innings lead against Baroda which propelled Mumbai into the Ranji Trophy last-4 at the BKC ground on Tuesday.
Mumbai will take on Tamil Nadu in the second semi-final at the same venue while in the first semi-final, Vidarbha will host Madhya Pradesh.
Mumbai’s 36-run lead in the first innings after Baroda were bowled out for 348 proved to be the decisive factor.
The match was called off at tea with Baroda reaching 121 for three in their chase of 606 on the final day. Musheer Khan was named Man of the Match for his double hundred in the first innings.
Mumbai resumed play at 379 for nine with Kotian unbeaten on 32 and Deshpande on 23.
Mumbai’s Nos. 10 and 11 Kotian (120 not out off 129 balls) and Deshpande (123 from 129 balls) recorded their maiden first-class hundreds while adding 232 runs for the 10th wicket off 240 balls.
The duo fell one run short of equalling the record for the highest partnership for the 10th wicket in Ranji, held by Delhi’s Ajay Sharma and Maninder Singh against Mumbai in the 1991-92 season.
In Nagpur, Vidarbha completed a 128-run hammering of Karnataka to cruise into the semi-final, riding on splendid four-wicket hauls by Harsh Dubey and Aditya Sarwate.
Summarised scores
l In Nagpur: Vidarbha 460 & 196. Karnataka 286 & 243 (Mayank Agarwal 70, Aneesh KV 40; Harsh Dubey 4/65, Aditya Sarwate 4/78). Vidarbha won by 128 runs.
l In Mumbai: Mumbai 384 & 569 (Tanush Kotian 120 n.o., Tushar Deshpande 123; Bhargav Bhatt 7/200). Baroda 348 & 121/3
(Priyanshu Moliya 54). Match drawn, Mumbai advance via first innings lead.
