Shardul gives final touches to Vidarbha rout

MUMBAI: The final day's outing was a mere formality. Defending champs Mumbai needed just 22 minutes and 31 balls to complete Vidarbha's rout and go atop the Group A table of the Ranji Trophy here on Sunday.
Left to lick their wounds at 177 for eight overnight (chasing an improbable 530), Vidarbha folded up for 191 as young medium-pacer Shardul Thakur took the last two wickets to finish with 4 for 48. He returned with impressive match figures of seven for 88.
Mumbai now have 19 points, three clear of Punjab who are placed second. They will, however, be left without Zaheer and batsman Ajinkya Rahane, who will leave with the national team on the tour to South Africa.
Mumbai, who play Jharkhand next at home from December 6 to 9, will now have to look up to the 22-year-old Shardul, all-rounder Abhishek Nayar and Akbar Khan to deliver the goods. Seamer Dhawal Kulkarni is injured.