Mumbai’s Musheer Khan displayed in good measure the kind of appetite he has for runs. On Day Two of the Ranji Trophy quarter-final against Baroda on Saturday, the India U-19 World Cupper continued from where he left off on Friday (128 overnight) by smashing a double century for Mumbai to total 384.
Through his unbeaten 203 (18×4), Musheer emerged Mumbai’s lone star performer at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Bandra-Kurla Complex ground.
Baroda launched a strong counter attack by scoring 127-2 at stumps. Nothing changed for Musheer after his grand opening day.
Khan’s maiden FC double ton
He took fresh guard, but his approach was the same, showing similar determination and high-class temperament to reach his maiden first-class double hundred. What makes Musheer, 18, special is his hunger for runs and the emphasis on quick running between the wickets. It is this approach to batting that helped Mumbai reach a total close to 400.
The hosts’ wicketkeeper-batsman Hardik Tamore (57, 3×4) played a good hand while stitching a 181-run stand with Musheer, for the sixth wicket. Mumbai batted for over 10 hours in the first innings and Musheer spent nine of those hours on the pitch, where he and Tamore faced 443 balls.
Musheer reached his 200 (off 350 balls) with an off-driven single off left-arm spinner Ninad Rathva (3-86). Only once—when on 156—did he appear troubled.
His India U-19 teammate Raj Limbani tested his patience and courage with a couple of bouncers. Musheer negotiated the first bouncer, but got hit on his helmet while trying to duck the second.
Meanwhile, Tamore, who was unbeaten on 30 overnight, hardly stepped out to play his shots. He only did so before reaching his half-century, dispatching off-spinner
Mahesh Pithiya over his head through a stylish straight drive for four. His 248-ball knock ended when Rathva had him caught by slip fielder Jyotsnil Singh. Left-arm spinner Bhargav Bhatt claimed seven for 112. Later, Baroda recovered well after losing opener Priyanshu Moliya (one) when pacer Shardul Thakur (1-25) clean bowled the right-hander.
Brief scores
Mumbai 384 (M Khan 203*, H Tamore 57; B Bhatt 7-112) v Baroda 127-2 (S Rawat 69*, J Singh 32, V Solanki 23*)