Shardul Thakur's century helps Tamil Nadu to victory

Chasing TN's 146, Mumbai found themselves struggling at 106 for 7, but their lower order managed to turn the tables on Sai Kishore and his team.

Shardul Thakur responded to R Sai Kishore's six-wicket haul with his first-ever first-class century, helping Mumbai extend their first-innings lead to 207 against Tamil Nadu in their Ranji Trophy semi-final at the Bandra Kurla Complex. In response to TN's 146, Mumbai ended the second day at 353 for 9, with Tanush Kotian (74*) unbeaten alongside No.11 Tushar Deshpande (17*).

Mumbai were 106 for 7, still 40 runs behind TN when Thakur came out to bat on the second morning. Sai Kishore bowled a delivery from wide outside off to dismiss Shams Mulani for a duck. In the same over, he also got rid of Musheer Khan for 55, thanks to a smart stumping by N Jagadeesan.

Thakur began aggressively, hitting a rasping slog-sweep to send Sai Kishore to the midwicket boundary. Sai Kishore bowled for 22 overs, only interrupted by lunch. During this spell, he also dismissed nightwatcher Mohit Avasthi (2) and Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane (19) with turn and bounce.

Thakur and Hardik Tamore then formed a partnership of 105 runs for the eighth wicket, with Tamore contributing 32. Thakur targeted rookie left-arm fingerspinner S Ajith Ram, punishing him for bowling too full on the stumps. When Ajith adjusted his line wider, Thakur expertly placed the ball through the extra-cover or cover-point.

Thakur reached his fifty by hitting a six off Ajith and completed his century with another six off the same bowler. He celebrated by punching his fist, leaping in the air, and pointing his finger at the Mumbai dressing room. He achieved this milestone in 90 balls. Overall, he scored 49 runs off 32 balls against Ajith at a strike rate of 153.12. Thakur also scored at a rate of over 100 against Sai Kishore, who is the highest wicket-taker of this season. TN's guest pacer Kuldeep Sen dismissed Thakur on 109 off 105 balls with the second new ball, having him nick an outswinger to Jagadeesan.

Kotian and Deshpande continued to frustrate TN with an unbroken 63-run stand for the last wicket. Kotian made a career-best 120 not out against Baroda in the last four.

Sai Kishore shouldered the bulk of the load for TN, bowling 37 overs and conceding 97 runs. In contrast, against a Mumbai line-up dominated by right-handers, Washington Sundar, who had been dropped from the Indian Test side, bowled just seven overs.

Fast bowler Sandeep Warrier claimed the wicket of Shreyas Iyer for 3 with an old ball. After setting him up with a lifter, Sandeep dismissed him with a fuller delivery, which lifted TN's spirits. But Thakur's explosive century changed the complexion of the match.