Rest of India turned a brilliant fightback launched from the fourth morning into a record victory at Brabourne Stadium on Thursday after Mumbai had dominated the first three days of the Irani Cup.
The Naman Ojha led Rest chased down a record total of 480 in Irani Cup play and the third highest in Indian first class cricket with four wickets in the bank to lift the cup and keep Mumbai’s two-decade wait going for this elusive trophy.
Opener Faiz Fazal struck a fighting century and man of the match Karun Nair scored a brilliant 92 before Stuart Binny (54) and Sheldon Jackson (59 not out) hit strokeful half centuries to complete the chase.
Vidarbha’s Fazal made 127 runs in 280 balls to set the tune for a monumental chase. He planted himself at the wicket for 421 minutes and struck 10 boundaries. The southpaw, who scored his 11th first class century, was involved in stands of 110 and 130 with Sudip Chatterjee (54) and Nair respectively.
Mumbai found just one success in the first session with Chatterjee’s wicket. Mumbai used part timers in Shreyas Iyer, Surya-kumar Yadav and Siddhesh Lad to get through overs on a hot and humid day.
Fazal was eventually caught behind off Abdulla. Rest of India were 321/3 in 98 overs at tea, requiring 159 in the last session in minimum 35 overs
Abdulla, the lone successful bowler (5/154 in 42.4 overs) on the day, struck with the new ball to remove Nair who consumed just 132 balls and hit seven boundaries.
Jackson and Naman Ojha (29) rode on early chances to find the boundaries before Ojha was run out. This brought in Binny and he hit some big shots, blasting two sixes and three boundaries. The sixth wicket partnership of 92 in 101 balls put Rest of India in firm control.
Scores: Mumbai 603 and 182 lost to Rest of India 306 and 482/6 in 129.4 overs (F. Fazal 127, K. Nair 92, S. Jackson 59 not out, S. Binny 54, S. Chatte-rjee 54; I. Abdulla 5/154)
