Ace all-rounder proves his worth again with gutsy 91 that enables defending champions set Gujarat a challenging target of 312. Tare & Co now have to bank on their ability and nous to deny Parthiv's team Ranji Trophy glory
Mumbai’s Nayar plays one on the leg-side against Gujarat at Indore yesterday. Pic/Prakash Parsekar
The match is on razor edge. It may go either way and both Mumbai and Gujarat players could well have had a sleepless night thinking about it. It's now up to the Mumbai bowlers or Gujarat batsmen, whoever gives their best in a high-pressure last day's play of the Ranji Trophy final at the Holkar Stadium here, will lay their hands on the prestigious trophy. If Gujarat win, it will be their maiden title in the history of the game and if Mumbai clinches it, it will be their 42nd title. History backs Mumbai, but cricket is a funny game.
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Gujarat pacer Chintan Gaja (right) celebrates a Mumbai wicket at Indore yesterday.
Riding on crisis-man Abhishek Nayar's fighting 91 and skipper Aditya Tare's 69, Mumbai reached 411, setting Gujarat a target of 312 to chase in the fourth innings on a final-day track. Play ended before the allotted overs could be completed as the umpires declared bad light after extending time because of slow over -rate yesterday. Gujarat openers Priyank Panchal (34 not out) and Samit Gohel (8 not out) started confidently, putting 47 on the board for the first wicket. They still require another 265 with all 10 wickets intact going into the final day's play today.
Panchal and Gohel have scored lot of runs this season, but in the first innings both failed, only managing single-digit scores of six and four respectively.
However yesterday, they played sensibly to see Gujarat bat out the day without losing any wickets. Panchal, in particular, was in a positive frame of mind, hitting seven boundaries during his innings of 34.
Nayar to the fore
Earlier, experienced Nayar once again showcased his skill and temperament while batting with tailenders Vishal Dabholkar and Vijay Gohil, adding 44 and 41 for the ninth and 10th wicket respectively. When pacer Chintan Gaja claimed his fifth wicket to dismiss Dabholkar for 12, Nayar was unbeaten on 51 off 115 balls. But it was brilliant stuff all the way as he knocked the Gujarat attack around, even when all fielders were on the boundary line, scoring his remaining 40 off just 31 balls with five hits over the ropes. The interesting aspect of Nayar's last-wicket stand with Gohil was that all 41 runs were scored by the southpaw himself and the left-arm spinner remained unbeaten without opening his account after facing seven balls during his 31-minute stay at the crease.
"It's going to be a tough day. I don't think it's going to be easy. It's a game of cricket, it's a game of nerves. I think they came out and batted really well. It can go either way, it's not going to be easy but our boys will give it their all and they will make everyone in Mumbai and this team proud," said the 33-year-old optimistic all-rounder Nayar.
Tare piles it on
Earlier, skipper Tare's 69 also played a vital role to boost Mumbai's total. Though Gaja was the most successful Gujarat bowler (6-121) he was badly treated by Tare when he flicked one away towards the fine-leg fence and then with a back foot punch towards cover boundary.
Responsible Tare looked confident as he cut pacer Bhargav Merai's first two balls to the boundary.
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