Showing off his fine form at the perfect time — the national selectors are set to pick the Indian team for the Test series against Australia at home soon — India's pace bowling allrounder Shardul Thakur took 5 for 80 in 26 overs (2-68 in 22 overs & 3-12 in 4 overs) on Thursday to help Mumbai close in on an innings win against Assam in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the Amigaon Cricket Ground in Guwahati.
Leading the Mumbai attack after a long time, Thakur, in tandem wi th fellow pacer Mohit Avasthi (2-19), destroyed Assam in the second innings. Hurtling towards an innings defeat, the beleaguered hosts were tottering at 36 fo r 5 at stumps on Day 3. In fact, they had collapsed to 17 for 5 by the fifth over.
