Ranji Trophy: Shreyas Iyer (153*) Leads Mumbai Run Feast After Odisha Opt To Field First

Mumbai: Odisha bowlers were sent on a leather hunt by Mumbai batters after skipper Govinda Poddar won the toss and surprisingly opted to field first in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A fixture on Wednesday.

Team India-reject Shreyas Iyer led the run feast at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy ground here, smashing an unbeaten 152 off 164 balls (18×4, 4×6) as Mumbai coasted to 385/3 in 90 overs.

Young opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi made a strokeful 92 (13×4, 3×6), while Siddhesh Lad is unbeaten on a watchful 116.

After 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre fell leg-before wicket to Suryakant Pradhan for a run-a-ball 18, Raghuvanshi and Lad put their heads down to construct a 135-run partnership for the second wicket.

Part-time medium-pacer Biplab Samantaray then provided Odisha some joy with two wickets in as many deliveries in the 40th over. He first castled Raghuvanshi and then trapped former India captain Ajinkya Rahane leg-before wicket for a golden duck.

At 154/3, Iyer strode out to the crease and started attacking the Odisha bowlers straightaway. He scattered the field with boundaries to all parts of the ground. Hapless Odisha skipper Poddar used seven bowlers in an attempt to break the threatening fourth-wicket partnership, but with no luck.

Iyer and Lad had added 231 runs at 4.6 runs per over to put Mumbai in the driver’s seat on the very first day.

Brief Scores

Mumbai 1st innings: 385/3 in 90 overs (Shreyas Iyer batting 152, Siddhesh Lad batting 116, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 92; Biplab Samantaray 2/36).

Match to continue on Day 2.