Saurashtra foil Mumbai victory bid

MUMBAI, JANUARY 6: Saurashtra tailenders displayed a huge chunk of spunk as they extricated themselves from a certain disaster at the Wank...

MUMBAI, JANUARY 6: Saurashtra tailenders displayed a huge chunk of spunk as they extricated themselves from a certain disaster at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. While Mumbai came within hand-shaking distance of an outright victory in their last West Zone Ranji Trophy encounter, Saurashtra enhanced their hopes of qualifying for the Super League by eking out a draw.

With opener Sudhir Tanna rendered hors de combat by a severe back strain, Saurashtra’s slim hopes of staving off defeat rested on last man Kamal Chavda (zero not out), who had walked in with a maximum of 22 balls to spare.

Chavda almost succumbed to pressure in the penultimate over of the mandatory count bowled by leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule. A wild swipe took a top-edge of the bat and fell nearly 10 yards behind the bowler. But Bahutule, who reacted late, failed to make ground for the catch. Off the next delivery, Chavda snicked to wicket-keeper Amol Rane only to find the umpire penalising Bahutule for a no-ball.

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While Chavda rodeon a gambler’s luck to negotiate Bahutule, Rajesh Garsondia (three not out) faced little difficulty in bracing upto Abey Kuruvilla in the next to trigger a celebration in the Saurashtra camp.

Despite the dominance that Mumbai enjoyed in this encounter, their bowlers’ inability to run through the side exposed their limitations. The attack of international experience was miserably found wanting when it mattered.

Having broken down Saurashtra’s last line of defence with the dismissals of skipper Sitanshu Kotak (52: 169b, 224m, 5×4) and wicket-keeper Manoj Parmar (67: 128b, 173m, 9×4, 1×6), all Mumbai needed was to claim three more wickets within 27 overs. Skipper Amol Muzumdar set up an attacking field with eight men manning the close-in cordon. But the bowlers failed to compliment the move to pave an escape route for the rivals.

Though it would be unfair not to appreciate the temperament exhibited by the Saurashtra tail comprising Dharmendra Chudasama (13), Niraj Odedara (12), Garsondia and Chavda, theyweren’t really tested by the opposition. If pads formed the first line of defence to the spinners, then shouldering arms to the medium-pacers was enough.

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Earlier, Mumbai claimed four wickets in the first hour itself with Paras Mhambrey and Abey Kuruvilla sharing the spoils. However, Parmar joined Kotak and laid the foundations for a fightback which was well emulated by the tail. The fifth-wicket pair raised 111 runs but more importantly, consumed almost an entire session.

A lapse in concentration found Kotak fishing to Mhambrey’s outswinger and with Parmar too making his exit, Saurashtra were in trouble. But the next four men, known more their bowling skills, collectively stonewalled Mumbai’s hopes.

Scoreboard

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

Mumbai (2nd innings): 372-4 declared
Saurashtra (2nd innings; overnight 33-0): Vasant Kumar c Jaffer b Mhambrey 16 (64b, 87m, 3×4), Bimal Jadeja c Pagnis b Mhambrey 12 (63b, 104m, 1×4), Sitanshu Kotak c Rane b Mhambrey 52(169b, 224m, 5×4), Prakash Bhatt c Muzumdar b Kuruvilla 8 (35b, 40m, 1×4), Feroze Bhambania c Rane b Kuruvilla 0 (9b, 10m), Manoj Parmar lbw b Bahutule 67 (128b, 173m, 9×4, 1×6), Dharmendra Chudasama c Rane b Kuruvilla 13 (57b, 87m, 2×4), Niraj Odedara b Bahutule 12 (69b, 107m, 1×4), Rajesh Garsondia not out 3 (36b, 54m), Kamal Chavda not out 0 (11b, 16m); Extras (b 5, lb 5, w 1, nb 12): 23
Total (for eight wickets off 106 overs, 459 minutes): 206
Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Kumar), 2-36 (Jadeja), 3-54 (Bhatt), 4-55 (Bhambania), 5-166 (Kotak), 6-173 (Parmar), 7-191 (Chudasama), 8-205 (Odedara)
Bowling: Mhambrey 22-10-35-3 (w 1), Saxena 11-3-20-0, Kulkarni 24-12-42-0, Kuruvilla 23-7-49-3 (nb 9), Bahutule 26-8-50-2 (nb 3)