02 February,2015 02:46 PM IST | | Harit N Joshi
After inspiring Mumbai to 169-run win over Baroda with a five-wicket haul, pacer Shardul Thakur says his team is already focusing on next game vs Karnataka to seal knock-out qualification
Mumbai's Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur couldn't have timed his fourth five-wicket haul of this Ranji Trophy season better as Mumbai beat Baroda by 169 runs yesterday to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the knock-outs.
Mumbai's Shardul Thakur. Pic/Atul Kamble
The right-arm pacer took 5-39 as hosts Baroda were bowled out for 238 chasing Mumbai's 408-run target on the final day at the Moti Baugh Stadium.
Though Thakur was ecstatic at helping Mumbai win the crucial tie, the 24-year-old was aware that the job was only half done.
"We never believed we couldn't win this match. We were only focused on winning. We are happy to have achieved our goal, but there is one more match (vs Karnataka) which is crucial for us.
Our focus is now on the next game. This (Baroda victory) is history now. Our main aim is to qualify for the next round," Thakur told mid-day from Baroda.
Thakur removed Hardik Pandya (1) and Deepak Hooda (32) early on in the innings before coming back to scalp the wickets of Swapnil Singh (12), Pinal Shah (0) and Bharghav Bhatt (0).
Unlucky
"The team expects me to take early wickets. I could have scalped more wickets in the first innings (Thakur claimed 1-58) but I was a bit unlucky.
I was only thinking of taking wickets in the second innings. We were confident of winning this match if we could give a collective effort. I am glad we were successful in our efforts," said Thakur.
Thakur, however, rated his nine-wicket haul against Uttar Pradesh as his best-ever performance of the season. "Performing against UP was most challenging. This (yesterday's performance) is my second best show of the season so far," Thakur signed off.
Brief scores
Mumbai: 287 & 304/9 decl in 67 overs (Shreyas Iyer 90, Nikhil Patil 50 not out; Yusuf Pathan 5/80) Baroda: 184 & 238 all out in 77.3 overs (Kedar Devdhar 58 not out, Munaf Patel 53; Shardul Thakur 5/39).
