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Wadkar, Rathod grind Mumbai down after Anand ton
The duo's unbeaten 90-run stand helped Vidarbha overcome a top-order collapse in the second innings
Shashank Kishore
19-Feb-2025
Vidarbha 393 and 147 for 4 (Rathod 59*, Wadkar 31*) lead Mumbai 270 (Anand 106, Rekhade 4-55) by 260 runs
An unbroken 91-run stand for the fifth wicket between Yash Rathod and Akshay Wadkar helped Vidarbha overcome a top-order collapse in the second innings, as they ended Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Mumbai on 147 for 4, which effectively is a lead of 260.
Rathod was unbeaten on 59, his second fifty-plus score in the match, while Wadkar's 31 not out was a typically gritty effort in which he batted out 102 deliveries. The left-right combination was the perfect balm for a nervy Vidarbha dressing room as spinners Shams Mulani and Tanush Kotian began making the ball talk on a Nagpur deck that had begun to show signs of variable bounce.
Full postFanning misses maiden ton but helps keep Western Australia on top
Michael Neser did his best to keep Queensland in the match but the home side lost a late wicket
AAP
19-Feb-2025
Queensland 147 for 39 for 1 trail Western Australia 312 (Fanning 95, Whiteman 67, Neser 4-34) by 126 runs
Opener Sam Fanning fell just short of a century but put Western Australia in a powerful position against Queensland on day two of their Sheffield Shield game.
Fanning made 95 as WA posted 312 all out on Wednesday at The Gabba in reply to Queensland's first innings of 147. At stumps, Queensland were 39 for 1 in their second innings, still 126 runs behind the visitors.
Full postKonstas calms himself but can't cash in as New South Wales take control
The home side built a lead of 190 on a surface where run-scoring has been hard work
Andrew McGlashan
19-Feb-2025
New South Wales 238 and 134 for 4 (Gilkes 43*, Phillipe 31, Boland 2-29) lead Victoria 182 (Bird 3-24, Jacobs 3-60) by 190 runs
Sam Konstas put away the scoops, ramps and sweeps on the second day at the SCG but could only make 17 before falling to Scott Boland for the second time in the match.
The day after Konstas' first-innings dismissal - missing a sweep against Boland from the 13th ball of the game - had ignited debate about his batting approach he was much more measured during New South Wales' second innings in a clear response to what happened on Tuesday.
Full postSangha, McInerney build healthy lead for Shield leaders South Australia
After 20 wickets fell on the opening day, the game took on a more sedate pace at Adelaide Oval
AAP
19-Feb-2025
South Australia 93 and 272 for 6 (Sangha 75, McInerney 61, Nielsen 49) lead Tasmania 101 by 264 runs
Jason Sangha and Conor McInerney struck half-centuries to give the Sheffield Shield leaders the upper hand over Tasmania in their fast-moving fixture.
SA were 272 for 6 in their second innings at stumps on day two at Adelaide Oval, 264 runs ahead of Tasmania. The hosts made just 93 in their first dig, with the visitors replying with 101.
Full postMatthews, Sciver-Brunt extend Mumbai's winning run against Giants
Sciver-Brunt's second consecutive fifty made sure Mumbai kept a perfect 5-0 record against Giants
Ashish Pant
18-Feb-2025
Mumbai Indians 122 for 5 (Sciver-Brunt 57, Kerr 19, Gautam 2-15, Mishra 2-40 ) beat Gujarat Giants 120 (Deol 32, Gautam 20, Matthews 3-16, Kerr 2-22) by five wickets
There was an air of inevitability right from the time a beaming Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bowl in Mumbai Indians' second match of WPL 2025 against Gujarat Giants. Teams chasing had won every single game so far this season. Couple that with Mumbai's 4-0 record against Giants coming into this match and odds were stacked heavily in Mumbai's favour.
And the game panned out accordingly.
Full postVidarbha eye first-innings lead after Mumbai's middle-order collapse
Mumbai went from 113 for 2 to 118 for 6 in the space of 11 balls
Shashank Kishore
18-Feb-2025
Mumbai 188 for 7 (Anand 67*, S Thakur 37, Lad 35, Rekhade 3-16, Y Thakur 2-56) trail Vidarbha 383 (Malewar 79, Shorey 74, Rathod 54, Dube 5-49) by 195 runs
A full-blown middle order collapse - four wickets in 11 deliveries - has left Mumbai with an uphill battle in their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Vidarbha in Nagpur.
Parth Rekhade, the left-arm spin allrounder playing in only his second first-class match, dismissed Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube in a single over, the 41st of the innings, as Mumbai went from a comfortable 113 for 2 to 113 for 5.
Full postAzharuddeen's 149* leads Kerala's slow march against Gujarat
Kerala added 212 at the loss of three wickets to their overnight 206 for 4
Shashank Kishore
18-Feb-2025
Kerala 418 for 7 (Azharuddeen 149*, Baby 69, Nagwaswalla 3-64) vs Gujarat
Seven years after his maiden first-class hundred, Mohammed Azharuddeen struck his second, a stonewalling effort that fetched him an unbeaten 149, as Kerala ground Gujarat on a placid Ahmedabad deck.
Kerala were painfully cautious on the second day, just like they were on the first, adding 212 to their overnight 206 for 4. Their go-slow approach made it clear that they were keen on batting just once in their quest to enter their maiden Ranji Trophy final.
Full postRocchiccioli's career-best seven gives Western Australia control
WA, currently bottom of the Shield table, gave themselves a chance of a vital win
AAP
18-Feb-2025
Western Australia 112 for 1 (Whiteman 67) trail Queensland 147 (Rocchiccioli 7-52) by 35 runs
Spinner Corey Rocchiccioli bagged his best first-class figures as Western Australia dominated Queensland on day one of their Sheffield Shield game.
Rocchiccioli snared 7 for 52 as Queensland were bowled out for 147 at the Gabba in Brisbane. WA cruised to 112 for 1 in reply, with Sam Whiteman making 67.
Full postDoggett sparks South Australia fight back as 20 wickets tumble
Kieran Elliott had earlier taken a six-wicket haul of his own as the home side were bundled out for 93
AAP
18-Feb-2025
South Australia 93 (Elliott 6-23) and 24 for lead Tasmania 101 (Doggett 6-40) by 16 runs
Paceman Brendan Doggett sparked a stunning South Australian comeback against Tasmania as 20 wickets tumbled on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash.
Shield leaders SA were skittled for 98 at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday with Tasmanian quick Kieran Elliott bagging a career-best six wicket haul.
Full postKonstas under the microscope as Boland, Davies shine
NSW recovered from 124 for 6 to finish the opening day in a healthy position after the match had started in dramatic fashion
Andrew McGlashan
18-Feb-2025
Victoria 92 for 4 trail New South Wales 238 (Davies 89, Boland 4-56) by 146 runs
Scott Boland again enjoyed himself at the SCG but Ollie Davies rescued New South Wales on a day where Sam Konstas' batting approach came under the spotlight.
In fifth before the round started, NSW are in more desperate need of victory in a push for the final but were in danger of being well short of a competitive total when Boland reduced them to 124 for 6, having earlier won a brief duel with Konstas who fell for a frenetic 10 off 7 balls when he attempted to sweep Boland in just the third over.
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