Cricket

Mumbai's Siddesh Lad and Angkrish Raghuvanshi guided their team to a comfortable nine-wicket victory over Services in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match in New Delhi. Resuming on 24 for one, Mumbai chased down the target of 135 in just 35.4 overs.Lad remained unbeaten on 73, hitting eight fours and two sixes, while Raghuvanshi contributed an unbeaten 55 with six boundaries. The duo shared an unbroken 128-run partnership for the second wicket, ensuring Mumbai's dominance.This victory keeps Mumbai in third place in the group standings with 22 points, behind Baroda and Jammu and Kashmir. Services remain in fifth place with 13 points.In another Ranji Trophy Group B match, Gujarat managed to salvage a draw against Vidarbha despite the latter posting a formidable total of 545-9. Vidarbha's innings was highlighted by three centuries from Danish Malewar (115), Karun Nair (123), and Akshay Wadkar (114 not out).Gujarat responded with a strong batting performance, led by Het Patel's 77. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals and were unable to build substantial partnerships. With time running out, the two teams agreed to a draw.Vidarbha remains atop the Group B table, followed by Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.

Mumbai, the defending Ranji Trophy champions, will face Services in Palam on Wednesday, aiming for their third outright victory of the 2024-25 season. With only eight points separating the top five teams in Group A, Mumbai, currently third behind Baroda and Jammu & Kashmir, recognizes the importance of a win before the campaign pauses for white-ball tournaments.Services, currently fourth in the standings, also has aspirations of challenging for a knockout spot. After defeats to Baroda and Jammu & Kashmir in the second and third rounds, they bounced back with a 35-run victory over Maharashtra last week. "We had lost the previous two games. So to beat Maharashtra was very important. We won a close contest and on their turf. For any team, that is bound to give confidence," said Services coach Rajesh Tiwari.Mumbai, led by Ajinkya Rahane, displayed its dominance in the previous round, crushing Odisha by an innings and 103 runs. The victory was built on a 354-run stand between Shreyas Iyer and Siddhesh Lad, the highest fourth-wicket partnership for the 42-time winner. Iyer plundered a 228-ball 233 while Lad contributed 169 off 337 balls.Iyer's continued good form, as evidenced by his century against Maharashtra, suggests he is eager to reclaim his place in India's Test plans. Services captain Rajat Paliwal acknowledges the challenge ahead against Mumbai's formidable batting lineup. "The wickets in matches here have been taken by medium-pacers as well as spinners. Batters have also scored runs. There will be help for everyone from this surface," Paliwal said.