You had to be a romantic to back Maharashtra to chase down those 252 runs without breaking a sweat, says a report in Mumbai Mirror, adding that fourth-innings nerves, Zaheer Khan, Mumbai - doubts dance before the eyes. That's how Gujarat wilted against the defending champions in the previous match.
According to the report, the penultimate day's scenes at the Wankhede were thus a bit unforeseen. An emerging bat Vijay Zol joining hands with a seasoned run-machine Kedar Jadhav. The target being achieved two hours before close of play and with the loss of just two wickets. A joyous Maharashtra team lining up near the fence, arms linked to one another's shoulders, embodying just what team spirit can do. And former Mumbai cricketer Vasu Paranjpe going to their dressing room to say, "Now that you have beaten Mumbai, don't lose to any other side."
Maharashtra shocked Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal as they beat the defending champions by eight wickets to reach the semifinals on Saturday.
According to a report in The Indian Express, set a target of 252 to chase for only their third outright victory in the long-running competition over the 40-time winners, Maharashtra rode on an unbeaten century from Kedar Jadhav (120 not out) and his superb 215-run unconquered third-wicket stand with 19-year-old Vijay Zol (91 not out) to turn the tables on the home team on the fourth day of the five-day match.
“Jadhav, who made 51 in the first innings and also crossed 1000 runs for the season during this excellent knock, faced 144 balls and hit 14 fours and three sixes in his 239-minute knock. It was the latter's fifth century of the season and ninth in his first-class career since debuting in 2007-08,” says the report.
According to a report in Deccan Herald, Zol faced 180 balls and struck 13 fours in his 258-minute unbeaten knock. Maharashtra's victory came 10 minutes before tea when Jadhav fittingly swung Thakur for a four. “Maharashtra would meet the winners of the other quarterfinal between Bengal and Railways in the semi-finals scheduled at Indore's Holkar Stadium from January 18-22,” says the report.
