Ranji Trophy 2022 Final, Mumbai vs MP, Day 3: Dubey-Sharma 222-run stand ensures 1st inn lead for MP

Ranji Trophy 2022 Final, Mumbai vs Madhya Pradesh, Day 2, Top Performances: Yash Dubey’s 133, Shubham Sharma’s 116 and Rajat Patidar's 67* take Madhya Pradesh to 368-3

Dubey-Sharma 222-run stand ensures 1st inn lead for MP (Images ©PTI/Cricinfo)

Brief Scores: Madhya Pradesh 368/3 (Dubey 133, Sharma 116, Patidar 67*, Avasthi 53/1) trail Mumbai 374 (Sarfaraz 134, Jaiswal 78, Yadav 106/4, Agarwal 81/3) by 6 runs at Stumps on Day 3

On the third day of Ranji Trophy 2022 Final, Madhya Pradesh started their innings from 123/1. They were behind Mumbai’s total in the first innings by 251 runs at the start of play. Yash Dubey and Shubham Sharma were unbeaten at the end of the second day.

Let’s scan the top performances from Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy 2022 Final between Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh.

Yash Dubey slams phenomenal century

Madhya Pradesh Yash Dubey added a whopping 222 runs with one down batter Shubham Sharma to help his side reach close to the opponent’s total in the first innings. In the process, the 23-year-old batter slammed his third first-class century off 234 deliveries.

The batting duo of Dubey and Sharma started cautiously against opponent pacers on Friday morning, but they didn’t shy away from sending bad balls to the boundary. Dubey completed his half-century in 139 balls by taking a double against right-arm pacer Mohit Avasthi. After completing his fifty, Dubey started to play attacking shots. The right-hand batter continued to milk runs off loose balls bowled by Mumbai bowlers.

Dubey reached his hundred by sweeping a boundary through fine leg against spinner Tanush Kotian. Madhya Pradesh reached 223/1 till the lunch break. After losing his partner Shubham Sharma, Dubey and next batter Rajat Patidar helped their team to get past 300. When Patidar was going on a rampage against opponent bowlers, Dubey held the other end. However, after playing a staggering 110 overs in the innings, opener Dubey lost his wicket after hitting a patient and confident knock of 133 off 336 deliveries. His knock was studded with 14 elegant fours.

Read More: Ranji Trophy 2022 Final, Mumbai vs MP, Day 2: Sarfaraz century takes Mumbai to 374; MP at 123-1

Shubham raises his bat as he scores century (116) against Mumbai in Final (Images ©PTI/Cricinfo)

Shubham Sharma smashes his fourth century of the season

Madhya Pradesh one down batter Shubham Sharma slammed a stupendous century in this all-important game. Sharma came in the middle when Madhya Pradesh lost their first wicket on 47. They were still behind Mumbai’s total in the first innings by a huge margin of 327 runs.

Sharma kicked off day 3 by clobbering two stylish boundaries in one over of Tushar Deshpande. The 28-year-old batter completed his fifty in just 74 deliveries. Fortunately for Sharma, he got a life when Armaan Jaffer dropped his catch at short cover. Sharma played patiently against pacers but unleashed his attacking strokes against spinners. He clubbed many boundaries against spinners - Shams Mulani and Kotian.

After the lunch break, Sharma completed his seventh first-class century in 186 deliveries by cracking a boundary off pacer Deshpande. After completing his century, he played more attacking shots. However, he got caught by wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore against spinner Kotian.

Sharma’s knock of 116 runs was studded with 15 fours and one six. This is the fourth century of Sharma in this season of Ranji Trophy. The right-hand batter struck a century in the quarter final match against Punjab.

Read More: Ranji Trophy 2022 Final, Mumbai vs MP, Day 1: Jaiswal shines with 78 as Mumbai reach 248-5

Rajat Patidar scores 44-ball fifty against Mumbai (Images ©Hotstar/BCCI)

Rajat Patidar plays whirlwind knock to put opponents under pressure

Rajat Patidar, who had become a hero in IPL 2022 by smashing a stupendous century in the playoff game against Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), is also scoring the bulk of runs in first-class cricket. He is the top run-scorer for Madhya Pradesh (506 runs from five games) in this season of Ranji Trophy.

After the dismissal of Sharma, Madhya Pradesh were still behind Mumbai’s total by more than 100 runs. This wicket of Sharma could have triggered a collapse in the Madhya Pradesh camp, however, Patidar put opponent bowlers on the backfoot from the start by playing attacking strokes. He smashed two boundaries in one over of pacer Deshpande and repeated the same feat against pacer Mohit Avasthi after a few overs. Patidar and Dubey helped their side to get past 300 before the tea break.

After the tea break, Mumbai skipper Prithvi Sharma brought back spinners into the attack, however, Patidar continued to smash boundaries at will. He struck two boundaries in one over of right-arm spinner Kotian. He completed his fifty in just 44 balls by slamming a boundary off Avasthi. His quickfire knock caught the Mumbai team off guard and eroded the lead of Mumbai quickly.

Even though Madhya Pradesh lost another wicket in the form of Dubey at the team score of 341, Patidar continued to milk runs and helped his side reach close to Mumbai’s total. Madhya Pradesh reached 368 for three at the end of the third day and is trailing Mumbai by only six runs due to the fabulous knocks of Dubey, Sharma and Patidar.

What to Expect on Day 4

Madhya Pradesh are well positioned to take a huge lead over Mumbai as they are trailing Mumbai by only six runs and have seven wickets in hand. They would like to make a big score to put Mumbai out of the game completely, to win their first title in Ranji Trophy.

Mumbai have been the most successful side in Ranji Trophy, however, they could not stop Madhya Pradesh batters from reaching close to their total in the first innings. They will hope to take quick wickets on the morning of the fourth day to bundle out Madhya Pradesh below 400 to keep the game alive.

Read More: Ranji Trophy 2022 SF1, Bengal vs MP: Mantri 165, Kartikeya 8-128 help MP reach 2nd Final in Ranji