Minnows Jharkhand grabbed a handy first innings lead of 86 runs over defending champions Mumbai and then increased it substantially by reaching 176 for 5 in their second innings on day three of their Ranji Trophy Group A match here today.
Jharkhand, who rode on a blistering knock of 238 by Saurabh Tiwary, dismissed the home team for 265 by wrapping up the remaining five Mumbai first innings wickets this morning, 28 minutes before lunch on the penultimate day of the game at the Wankhede Stadium.
Then the visitors, who are at the bottom of the league table, ensured they did not collapse in their second essay as openers Bhavin Thakkar (39) and Rameez Nemat (32) gave them a sound start of 65 which was capitalised upon by Tiwary (38) and Ishank Jaggi, who was unbeaten on 51 made off 92 balls with a six and 7 fours.
Left-handed Tiwary and Jaggi put on 75 runs in only 71 minutes for the fourth wicket before the former was caught behind off Javed Khan. Khan also dismissed wicketkeeper Pappu Singh who shouldered arms and was bowled off the last ball of the day.
At stumps, the visitors were 262 runs ahead of Mumbai and stood poised to take at least three points from the game.
In the morning, Mumbai's best chance of overtaking Jharkhand's first innings total lay with the unconquered sixth wicket pair of Hiken Shah and Suryakumar Yadav who were not out on 46 and 49 respectively in an overnight team score of 210 for 5.
Both completed their centuries but then were dismissed in close succession at the same total of 236 to virtually blow away group leaders Mumbai's hopes of taking the first innings lead.
