Tail-enders deny Mumbai win

SAS NAGAR, March 7: Punjab, who were in race for the vital first innings lead -- nearly had it as well -- in the morning, were fighting to s...

SAS NAGAR, March 7: Punjab, who were in race for the vital first innings lead — nearly had it as well — in the morning, were fighting to stave off an outright defeat less than two hours later. However, their tailenders saved them from embarrassment, though Mumbai gained five points on the basis of their first innings lead on the concluding day of the drawn Ranji Trophy Group A’ Super League match between the two teams here at the PCA Stadium today.

In reply to Punjab’s first innings score of 272, Mumbai posted 280 before being bowled out. The drama continued well beyond, as complacent Punjab batsmen displayed a horrendous show to finish at 73 for 8 in their second innings when the umpires, in consent with the two captains decided to call of the match in the 12th mandatory over. For denying Mumbai an outright win, credit must be given to Punjab tailenders, especially Navdeep, Bharti Vij and Sandeep, who consumed time while stemming the rot after they were reeling at 37-7 at one stage.

In the morning,Punjab speedster Sandeep Sharma beat Amol Muzumdar for pace to rattle his stumps on the very third delivery of the day and that became the order of the day. It was the spin duo of Aashish Kapoor and Bharti Vij who did the damage. Mumbai skipper Vinod Kambli was the lone batsman who looked capable of withstanding their fury.

SCOREBOARD

Punjab (1st innings): 272

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Mumbai (1st innings): Amit Pagnis lbw Kapoor 56, Sulakshan Kulkarni c A Sharma b Bhushan 13, Sunil More b Kapoor 46, Amol Mazumdar b S Sharma 12, Vinod Kambli c&b Vij 86, Rajesh Sutar c Ricky b Vij 6, Mandar Phadke c Dharmani b Kapoor 25, Paras Mahmbery c Vij b Kapoor 1, Rajesh Pawar c&b Kapoor 6, Nilesh Kulkarni not out 10, Santosh Saxena c Manav b Vij 0; Extras (nb5, w2, lb3, b9): 19. Total (all out in 90.2 overs): 280

Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-99, 3-121, 4-186, 5-219, 6-254, 7-256 , 8-270, 9-270

Bowling: S Sharma 15-2-64-1, Bhushan 15-3-34-1, Kapoor 30-6-98-5, Vij 20.2-7-43-3, Navdeep 9-5-27-0, ASharma 1-0-2-0.

Punjab (2nd innings): Vikram Rathore b Mhambrey 0, Ravneet Ricky lbw Kulkarni 18, Pankaj Dharmani b Saxena 1, Amit Sharma b Kulkarni 8, Dinesh Mongia c S Kulkarni b Pawar 2, Manav Mehra b Pawar 3, Ashish Kapoor c S Kulkarni b Pawar 0, Navdeep Singh lbw Mhambrey 4, Sandeep Sharma n.o. 12, Bharti Vij n.o. 16; Extras (lb1, b8): 9. Total (for eight in 37.3 overs) 73

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Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-18, 4-21, 5-35, 6-35, 7-37, 8-53

Bowling: Mhambrey 8-5-9-2, Saxena 5-3-9-1, N Kulkarni 13-6-27-2, Pawar 10.3-6-9-3, Sutar 1-0-15-0