<p>Mumbai hopes to add to their record as the most successful team in the Ranji Trophy 2024 by defeating Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs to clinch their place in the championship game.</p>
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<p>In the match played at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC, Mumbai, Shardul Thakur stole the show from the returning Shreyas Iyer, winning Player of the Match with an impressive all-around effort.</p>
<p>After winning the toss, Tamil Nadu decided to bat. But the host’s bowling assault proved too much for the team, as they were bowled out for a mere 146 runs in the first inning. The home team took the lead thanks to three wickets from Tushar Deshpande and two apiece from Shardul Thakur, Musheer Khan, and Tanush Kotian.</p>
<p>With the bat, the visitors made a respectable effort as captain R Sai Kishore led from the front to remove the prominent players from the Mumbai top order. Though Shardul Thakur scored his first-class century to bring the team back into the game, Musheer Khan still managed to hit a vital fifty. As the home team jumped out to a 232-run advantage in the first inning, Tanush Kotian also kept up his impressive form at the bat, scoring 89 runs.</p>
<p>By taking the inexpensive wickets of Sai Sudharshan and N Jagadeesan, the opening combination, Thakur was also able to contribute with the ball. Washington Sundar, who was out for only four runs at number three, was unable to get going. The other seasoned combatants failed to capitalize on their beginnings, leaving Baba Indrajith as the lone batter remaining in the game. Mumbai reached the tournament’s record-tying 48th final with the spinner Shams Mulani’s four wickets in the second innings.</p>
<p>Mumbai will play either Madhya Pradesh or Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy final, with the second semi-final match still ongoing in Nagpur, Maharashtra.</p>
