Mumbai 297 & 372-4 decl

MUMBAI, JANUARY 5: Mumbai slammed a double whammy on Saurashtra at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. Skipper Amol Muzumdar (131: 169b, 25...

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MUMBAI, JANUARY 5: Mumbai slammed a double whammy on Saurashtra at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. Skipper Amol Muzumdar (131: 169b, 254m, 15×4, 2×6) and southpaw Vinod Kambli (125 not out: 177b, 233m, 16×4, 1×6) were pioneers of the run-binge which underlined Mumbai’s dominating status in the ongoing West Zone Ranji Trophy league encounter.

Set a herculean task of scoring 487 runs for victory from a possible 106 overs, Saurashtra meandered to 33 for no loss when stumps were drawn on the penultimate day of the four-day match.

The Muzumdar-Kambli combo packed 229 runs in 49.3 overs during their fourth-wicket association which was largely instrumental in Mumbai adding 319 runs off 72 overs today after resuming the day on 53-1. Interestingly, it was Muzumdar who had a better strike-rate than Kambli, who had a sedate start compiling his first 50 runs in 90 balls.

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The 25-year-old Muzumdar, of late, has shown a drastic improvement in accumulating runs at a faster pace which was amply evident while he compiled his 10th Ranji hundred (150b, 220m, 10×4, 2×6). His first fifty runs came off 79 balls.

Kambli, who turns 28 next fortnight, acted on coach Ashok Mankad’s advice of being patient. “I was terribly disappointed after getting out for 12 in the first innings. Kaka’s (Mankad) advised me not to get upset about it and just be patient.” Patience paid for the left-hander as he crafted his 18th century (155b, 196m, 15×4) in the National championship coming close on the heels of the 116 he notched against Gujarat last week.

Both Muzumdar and Kambli, who are eyeing berths in the National squad, were more intent in let their bats do the talking. “I’ve to really work hard and score as many runs as possible in the domestic circuit to stake a claim,” opined Kambli, whose batting average in the championship (80.00) is the second best only to Vijay Merchant’s 98.00.

Off-spinner Niraj Odedara was the scourge of the two batsmen as they picked 95 runs from his 24 overs.

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Earlier, Mumbai had begun in right earnest with opener Amit Pagnis (50: 135b, 198m, 6×4) and Amol Rane (30). However, both failed to captilise on the starts and succumbed to Odedara’s guiles. In stepped Kambli and with schoolmate Muzumdar took the Saurashtra attack to the cleaners.

Explaining the delay in declaring the innings which came 39 minutes after the tea interval, Muzumdar said: “The idea was to maintain the effect of the new ball for tomorrow morning when the conditions would be more suitable for the medium-pacers.” Add to it the bounce on the track which has been consistent on all the three days, the Saurashtra batsmen face a difficult proposition on Thursday.

Scoreboard

Mumbai (1st innings) 297
Saurashtra (1st innings): 183

Mumbai (2nd innings; overnight 53-1):
Wasim Jaffer lbw b Garsondia 11 (52b, 81m, 2×4)
Amit Pagnis c Kotak b Odedara 50 (135b, 198m, 6×4)
Amol Rane b Odedara 30 (48b, 68m, 5×4)
Amol Muzumdar c Parmar b Odedara 131 (169b, 254m, 15×4, 2×6)
Vinod Kambli not out 125 (177b, 233m, 16×4, 1×6)
Sairaj Bahutule not out 11 (24b, 24m, 2×4)

Extras: (9lb, 1w, 4nb) 14
Total: (declared for four wickets off 100 overs; 432 mins) 372
Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Jaffer), 2-76 (Rane), 3-114 (Pagnis), 4-343 (Muzumdar)
Bowling: Garsondia 17-6-49-1 (1nb), 13-3-54-0 (1nb, 1w), Odedara 38-8-130-3 (2nb), Chudasama 19-4-86-0, Bambhania 13-4-44-0
Saurashtra (2nd innings): Vasanth Kumar batting 16 (52b, 74m, 3×4)
Bimal Jadeja batting 11 (45b, 74m, 1×4)
Extras: (4b, 1lb, 1nb) 6
Total: (for no loss in 16 overs; 74 mins) 33
Bowling: Mhambrey 3-1-10-0, Saxena 4-1-8-0, Kulkarni 5-4-3-0, Kuruvilla 4-1-7-0.