Last Update: January 26, 2023, 5:41 pm IST
A rare instance in Ranji Trophy. (file photo)
A rare occurrence in the history of Ranji Trophy when both the teams registered identical scores in their respective first innings
It was only the 10th instance in Ranji Trophy history that Mumbai and Maharashtra ended their respective first innings on the same scoreline of 384-all out. Rare feat aside, the first innings result has left both the team’s chances of advancing to the quarter-finals of the ongoing season on thin ice with only one day’s play remaining.
This is the second time this season that two teams have finished with the same first innings total. The encounter between Bihar and Sikkim in Patna earlier this month saw both the sides being bundled out for 157 at the Urja Stadium.
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Internationally, however, there have been eight recorded instances of teams ending with identical scores in the first innings. The last such incident happened during the England vs New Zealand Test at Headingley in 2015 when both teams were bowled out for 350 in their first innings.
If the contest ends in a draw on Friday, both Maharashtra and Andhra will have 26 points each, while Mumbai will end the group stage with 24 points (one point each for a first-innings tie).
In this case, Andhra will pip Maharashtra in the quarters as the BCCI’s playing conditions say that the team with the higher number of bonus points will be seeded at the two-team stage.
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In Vizianagaram, Andhra beat Assam by an innings and 95 runs to win with a bonus point.
Mumbai opted to bowl first and reduced Maharashtra to 23/2 before Kedar Jadhav scored a century, while half-centuries from Asay Palkar and Saurabh Navale helped them post 384-all out in 115 overs.
In response, Mumbai dismissed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal on the very first ball. They kept losing wickets regularly but Prasad Pawar and Tanush Kotian kept them going and even raised hopes of taking a first innings lead.
However, after Pawar was dismissed for 145, it was Pawar who kept them in the hunt. Pawar was the last man to be dismissed, as he was bowled by spinner Vicky Ostwal for 93, with the scorecard reading 384.
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