in Mumbai 536 for 9 (Sarfaraz 221*, Rahane 97, Kotian 64, Iyer 57, Mukesh 4-109) vs. All India
The day started with Mumbai at 237 for 4. Sarfaraz and Rahane saw off the first 10 overs of the day before Rahane took three for 10 off a bouncer from Yash Dayal, with the new ball less than two overs away.
ROI took the ball into the 81st over and were quickly rewarded as Mukesh Kumar bowled Shams Mulani. Kotian joined Sarfaraz with Mumbai at 280 for 6 and started cautiously. After that the boundaries started coming in as the duo fielded loose balls.
Prasidh Krishna, who runs in the middle, threw away a difficult opportunity given to him by Sarfaraz on 97*, off Manav Suthar’s delivery. Sarfaraz brought up his 15th first-class century and fifty partnerships in the next over (92).
Mumbai’s dominance was strengthened in the afternoon session where they scored 111 runs in 26 wicketless overs at a run rate of 4.27. Sarfaraz set the tone with a boundary each to Suthar and Prasidh in the first two overs of the session.
Then, bowling less than 25 overs old, Sarfaraz hit Suthar for a six and a four in the 105th over before Kotian hit Saransh Jain for another six two balls later. Sarfaraz brought up his 150 and Mumbai 400 with ease. Kotian had four boundaries on his way to his fifty before Mumbai ended the session on 449 for 6.
Prasidh struck twice in two balls in the third over after tea, cutting Kotian with a slower ball and trapping Mohit Avasthi lbw with the next inswinger. But Shardul Thakur’s entry at number 10 showed Mumbai’s batting depth and allowed Sarfaraz, on 186*, to bat without worrying about plowing the strike.
Sarfaraz dropped Suthar for sixes and fours in a row before he brought up his double-ton on his 253rd ball in the 127th over. Wasim Jaffer, Ravi Shastri and Yashasvi Jaiswal – all from Mumbai – have previously made two centuries in the Irani Cup, but while representing ROI.
The physio was often off the field in the evening, allowed to play just 18 overs in the last session as Mumbai passed 500. Sarfaraz overturned Mukesh’s catch for 211, denying him five-fors. Thakur failed to make a run in what turned out to be the last game of the day, against Saransh for 36.
A lead in the first innings will be enough for Mumbai to win the title if the match ends in a tie.
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