Ranji Round-up: Mumbai in command after Jaiswal ton, Kartikeya pulls MP closer to final

After starting day four of the Ranji Trophy 2022 semifinal against Uttar Pradesh at 133/1, Mumbai opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (181) and No.3 Arman Jaffer (127) added 286 for the second wicket while reaching their respective hundreds in the process.

The duo's contributions meant Mumbai ended the penultimate day with a lead of 662 runs and have a full day to all out Uttar Pradesh to enter their 47th final in history.

Jaffer and Jaiswal batted patiently but stamped enough authority as they wore down Uttar Pradesh's bowlers. Jaiswal's marathon innings of 372 balls was studded with 23 boundaries and a six while Jaffer scored 15 fours and two sixes in his 259-ball stay at the crease.

Pacer Shivam Mavi finally succeeded in breaking the partnership when he got Jaffer caught by substitute keeper Aryan Juyal while Prince Yadav sent back Suved Parkar with Mumbai's score at 404.

Jaiswal fell short of his maiden first-class double century when nicked Prince to the keeper.

Sarfaraz Khan (23 not out) and Shams Mulani (10 not out) remained unbeaten at stumps while Uttar Pradesh captain Karan Sharma used a total of nine bowlers with little success.

Kumar Kartikeya dents Bengal's chase

Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran stood firm with an unbeaten 52 while his fellow top-order batters fell on the penultimate day of the semifinal against Madhya Pradesh. Kumar Kartikeya Singh picked up where he left off in the first innings with 3-35 as he sent back Abhishek Raman with the first ball of the innings.

Set a target of 350 at Alur, Bengal lost their second wicket in the form of Sudip Gharami who was trapped by off-spinner Saransh Jain with 49 runs on the board.

Kartikeya then struck twice in the space of 20 runs as he first bowled keeper-batter Abhishek Porel (7) and then got first innings' centurion Manoj Tiwary (7) caught by Gaurav Yadav.

Bengal have Easwaran and Anustup Majumdar (8 not out) at the crease for the final and need 254 runs to win with six wickets in hand.

Madhya Pradesh last best finish came in the 1998-99 season when they finished runners-up.