WATCH | Ranji Trophy: Karnataka skipper Vinay Kumar’s hat-trick blows Mumbai away on Day 1 of quarters

Mumbai, the most successful team in Ranji Trophy history, dug themselves a deep hole on the opening day of their quarter-final clash against Karnataka on Thursday.

Put into bat on a hazy morning at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, Mumbai were reduced to 7 for 3 after Karnataka skipper Vinay Kumar picked up a magnificent hat-trick.

Kumar, playing in his 100th First Class match, bowled an impeccable opening spell to blow away Mumbai’s young top-order.

First to go was the highly rated Prithvi Shaw. Playing away from his body to an away-moving delivery, Shaw edge a simple catch to Karun Nair at first slip. Jay Bista, the other Mumbai opener who has been among runs lately, was the next man to fall. The right-hander flashed hard in a similar manner to Shaw, only this time Nair pulled off a one-handed blinder in the slip cordon.

Kumar completed his hat-trick with a delivery that kept straight. Akash Parkar, who was given a massive promotion up the order, was beaten all ends up as the ball crashed into his pads.

Kumar, though, wasn’t finished as he went on to pick another three wickets. His …read more