Close on the heels of his century effort as a No. 11 batsman against Baroda, Mumbai pacer <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/ranji-trophy-semifinal-deshpande-thakur-shine-as-mumbai-take-opening-day-honours-23337993" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Tushar Deshpande</a> decided it&rsquo;s a good time to strike early in his spell with the red cherry. &nbsp;
He did so with three wickets to put Mumbai on top in their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu at the MCA-BKC ground on Saturday.
Clearly, Day One of the tie belonged to the 41-time champions, who shot out the opposition for 146. At stumps, the hosts were 45 for the loss of Prithvi Shaw and Bhupen Lalwani.
Deshpande&rsquo;s 3-24 included three of TN&rsquo;s top five batsmen&mdash;Pradosh Ranjan Paul, captain Sai Kishore and Baba Indrajith.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/gritty-madhya-pradesh-eye-formidable-outing-against-hosts-vidarbha-23337889" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Gritty Madhya Pradesh eye formidable outing against hosts Vidarbha</a>
<h2>Early breakthrough</h2>
TN skipper Sai Kishore decided to bat on a grassy pitch and immediately faced the consequences when openers Sai Sudharsan (0) and Narayan Jagadeesan (4) were back in the dressing room by the sixth over. International pacer <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/big-battles-in-this-war-23337888" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Shardul Thakur</a> (2-48) trapped Sudharsan leg before in the day&rsquo;s very first over before Jagadeesan misjudged pacer Mohit Avasthi&rsquo;s (1-23) length and offered an easy catch to short leg fielder Musheer Khan.&nbsp;
One-drop Paul (8) opened his and the team&rsquo;s account with a four; a well-timed flick off Thakur on the very first ball he faced.&nbsp;
However, he didn&rsquo;t last long as Deshpande, who was introduced in the ninth over as first change, held on to a caught and bowled chance in his first over.&nbsp; &nbsp; Kishore (1), who played a patient knock of 60 off 144 balls against Saurashtra at No.3 in the quarter-final at Coimbatore, was sent at No.4 and took 10 balls to open his account. He failed to counter Deshpande&rsquo;s fuller length delivery only to see his stumps uprooted. By the 17th over, TN had lost their most experienced batsman Indrajith (11), who is playing his 75th first-class game, with the scoreboard reading 42-5.&nbsp;
His attempt to hit a Deshpande delivery through the midwicket region failed and Tanush Kotian took a splendid diving catch in front of him at short midwicket. It looked like the hosts would bowl out TN inside 100, but two India all-rounders&mdash;Vijay Shankar (44, 8x4) and Washington Sundar (43, 5x4) stitched a partnership of 48 runs, the highest stand of the innings. Vijay Shankar was dismissed by Thakur for 44, while Sundar fell to off-spinner Tanush Kotian (2-10). Musheer claimed 2-18 with his left-arm spin.&nbsp;
<h2>&lsquo;We bowled in the right channels&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>
A delighted Deshpande said: &ldquo;We wanted to bowl first because the wicket had enough for the pace bowlers. We bowled in the right channels rather than individual bowling strengths.&rdquo;
Musheer (24 not out, 3x4) and nightwatchman Mohit Avasthi (1 not out) played a good hand for Mumbai towards the end of the day.
Brief scores TN 146 all out (V Shankar 44, W Sundar 43; T Deshpande 3-24, T Kotian 2-10, M Khan 2-18, S Thakur 2-48) v Mumbai 45-2 (M Khan 24*)
 <script async="async" data-cfasync="false" src="//pl23789885.revenuecpmgate.com/7445444aea29efc3d061cbd866026c06/invoke.js"></script>
 <div id="container-7445444aea29efc3d061cbd866026c06"></div>

Pacer Tushar Deshpande claims 3-24 as Tamil Nadu skittle out for just 146 on opening day of Ranji Trophy semi-final; hosts score 45-2 at stumps

Ranji Trophy: Mumbai dominate on Day 1 against Tamil Nadu at MCA Cricket Ground

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Sports / Cricket / Article / Ranji Trophy: Mumbai dominate on Day 1 against Tamil Nadu at MCA Cricket Ground

Ranji Trophy: Mumbai dominate on Day 1 against Tamil Nadu at MCA Cricket Ground

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast