Ranji Trophy: Tamil Nadu tail frustrates Mumbai

Mumbai's former star off-spinner and MCA's academy spin bowling coach — Ramesh Powar wore a dejected look while he was training one of city's aspiring spinners at the MCA academy ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex.

From where he was coaching the boy, he could clearly see the struggle of hapless Mumbai bowlers against Tamil Nadu's lower batting order as they conceded the first innings advantage on Day Three of the Group C Ranji Trophy encounter on Thursday.

Powar might have reminisced the days when the 41-time Ranji champions would dominate their opponents, thanks to the star spin trio including himself, left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni and leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule apart from their star-studded batting.

Thursday's proceedings only highlighted the chink in Mumbai's armour — Mumbai have not much to show as far as spin is concerned. And this allowed the lower batting order of the Tamil Nadu power the team as they overtook the hosts despite being on the back foot at one stage.

A patient century by comeback man V Yomahesh with some smart batting from tail-enders helped TN take the first innings lead at the MCA academy ground.

TN would have struggled to get the first innings advantage if not for the152-run knock by Baba Indrajith followed by a rescue act from Yomahesh, when they were 339 for eight at one stage, TN would have struggled to get the advantage.

The visitors, however, surpassed Mumbai's first innings score of 374 easily, before being folded out for 450.

In their second innings Mumbai, Shreyas Iyer, who has been picked for India's T20 series against New Zealand, entertained with a fiery unbeaten knock of 56 (58b, 3x4s, 5x6s), that included two sixes to off-spinner R Ashwin, to take Mumbai to 85 for one at stumps.

Earlier, after Ashwin and N Jagdeesan were dismissed in a span of 10 overs, overnight batsman Indrajith continued to eventually reach 150. But his fluent knock ended when trying to work left-arm spinner Vijay Gohil on the backfoot and ended up edging to Siddhesh Lad, stationed at first slip.

The celebration in the Mumbai camp was wild as the major threat was gone.

TN, 339 for eight, needed a strong partnership from Yomahesh and the tail Rahil Shah.

Despite the wicket lacking the bite and turn, Mumbai kept it tight with Gohil bowling at one end even as Tare kept rotating his seamers from the other.

The TN batsmen showed resilience and application which frustrated the Mumbai bowlers and the lack of support for Gohil at the other end made it easier for them to come to break the partnership. Mumbai's ploy to go with second left-arm spinner did not work as Aditya Dhumal struggled in keeping them in check or give any breakthroughs.

Mahesh, meanwhile, fired whenever he got an opportunity and even went for big shots when the ball came in his zone.

He eventually completed his 50 in style with a six to Gohil which also saw his team overcome Mumbai's total.

Mumbai coach Sameer Dighe praised TN batsman. "I won't say terrible (day). It is a positive sign (to learn), we should have got 500, but we couldn't. TN batsmen also applied themselves," he said.

He conceded that he had to go in with two left-arm spinners as there was not much of an option available to him.

"(Two left-arm spinners) Better option, didn't have off spinner thus we thought of playing with two seamers, and two left-arm spinners," said Dighe.

He did not rue the fact that Mumbai lacked off-spinners. "Whatever option we have, we have to win the games. Right now we don't find any off spinner hence we have to with whatever choice we have," he added.