The trio of in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal (63, 45b, 10x4, 1x6), Prithvi Shaw (54, 39b, 8x4, 2x6) and Arman Jaffer (55, 40b, 5x4, 3x6) all scored fifties as Mumbai- trying hard to qualify for the knockouts after putting themselves in a tough situation- beat Mizoram by seven wickets in a must-win match for them in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the JSCA Stadium Ranchi on Saturday.
Needing to win with a big margin, Mumbai raced away to the 189-run target in just 22.5 overs, with as many as 163 balls remaining, as Jaiswal, Shaw and Jaffer all went all guns blazing. To their luck, both Railways and Services, who are ahead of them in Elite Group E, lost their matches on the day.
"I was just trying to finish the match as quickly as possible for our team. I wish I remained not out, but it's ok," Jaiswal told TOI from Ranchi.
Placed at the 4th spot in Elite Group E, Mumbai need to score big wins over Puducherry on Monday, and Railways on Wednesday and hope other results go in their favour to harbour any hopes of making the knockouts, which start on December 26 in Ahmedabad.
Continuing his stupendous form, Jaiswal, after having stroked back-to-back hundreds, again sizzled with the bat.
Earlier, after being asked to field first, Mumbai restricted Mizoram to 188 for 9 in 50 overs, with left-arm seamer Royston Dias (3-30) and off-spinning allrounder Tanush Kotian (2-28) being the standout bowlers. Shreevats Goswami (56, 78b, 5x4) and Taruwar Kohli (47, 88b, 4x4) were the only significant contributors in the Mizoram innings. With Jaiswal, Shaw and Jaffer going all guns blazing firing, Mumbai raced away to the target in just 22.5 overs, with as many as 163 balls remaining.
Brief Scores: Mizoram 188-9 in 50 overs (Shreevats Goswami 56, Taruwar Kohli 47; Royston Dias 3-30, Tanush Kotian 2-28) lost to Mumbai 192-3 in 22.5 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 63, Armaan Jaffer 55, Prithvi Shaw 54) by 7 wickets
