Mumbai lifted the Under-23, Col CK Nayudu Trophy 2015-16 on the basis of the first innings lead against Madhya Pradesh in a drawn match in Indore. While Jay Bista’s double-century complemented by captain Eknath Kerkar’s unbeaten ton helped Mumbai post 577 runs in the first innings, T Deshpande (five wickets) and Akash Parker (four wickets) helped bowl MP out for 442 early on the fifth day. Parker, who had earlier contributed with the bat, returned to take timely wickets for his side.
Even as the bowlers worked to keep MP in check, middle-order batsman, Ashutosh Singh (73* off 237) and Saransh Jain (85 off 139) diligently worked to keep the home team in the fray after being left on 289 for six. Their efforts saw the four-day game being extended to the fifth day to acquire a result.
Earlier, Bista's 304-ball 217 helped lay the foundation for a formidable total for Mumbai after being asked to bat. Although they lost SM Yadav and Vikarant Auti in the 40th over and were left on 99 for two, Armaan Jaffer joined the opener in rebuilding the innings. The middle-order bat scored a patient 131-ball 60 as the pair forged a vital 184-run partnership for the fifth wicket. While, Puneet Datey, who had been contributing well for the senior MP team, ended the partnership by trapping the No 4 batsman lbw, Mayank Jain followed up with the wicket of the opener. Saransh then disrupted Dhrumil Matkar's stumps to leave Mumbai on 381 for five and three runs later Mayank bowled Shivam Dube.
Deshpande and Atif Attarwala then dealt early blows to leave the hosts on 16 for two. However, Rajat Patidar and Shubham Sharma joined forces to help the team to 235 until Parker accounted for the former. And 18 runs later the bowler also sent back Shubham for 131.
Deshpande and Parker struck again to leave MP on 289 for six, but Ashutosh found an ally in Saransh to keep the innings afloat. Both batsmen dug in their heels to keep the Mumbai attack at bay as they diligently chipped away at the total.
The pair took MP to stumps on fourth day at 419 for six and were trailing by 158 runs. With MP's first innings still incomplete at the end of Day 4, the match was extended into the fifth day.
However, the pair's resistance was ended by Deshpande on the fifth morning. Saransh, who had resumed his innings on 81, was sent back for 85 while Parker followed up with the wicket of Datey. 14 runs later, Deshpande claimed Ashwin Das and Mayank off consecutive deliveries to bowl MP out and help Mumbai seize the first innings lead and claim the trophy.
Result: Match Drawn. Mumbai win on basis of first innings lead.
Brief scores: Mumbai 1st inn 577/10 in 188.5 overs (J Bista 217, E Kerkar 102. A Parker 75, V Iyer 3/118, A Singh 2/4); MP 1st inn 442/10 in 171.5 overs (S Sharma 131, S Jain 85, R Patidar 82, T Deshpande 5/143, A Parker 4/77)
