Demolition drive

If the first two days were dominated by Mumbai batsmen, led by captain Wasim Jaffer, the third belonged to its bowlers. A combination of skilful fast and spin bowling saw defending champions pick up 18 wickets in a day and cruise to an innings and 167-run win over Gujarat in the Super League Ranji Trophy Group A tie on Friday.

First it was the fiery early morning spell by Ajit Agarkar (4/35) that saw the hosts crumble to 162, half an hour before the end of first session. Post lunch, Iqbal Abdulla took his maiden five-for to bundle Gujarat out for 215 and finish the game in three days at the Balsad District Cricket Association Stadium.

Mumbai’s second outright victory with a bonus point, the first came against Railways, saw them zoom way ahead of others in Group A with 20 pts in the table.

Earlier, Gujarat resuming Day Three at 121 for 2 in their first innings, were found struggling against the Mumbai seamers. Agarkar, using all his experience, bowled a spectacular spell. He used the morning conditions well and had the batsmen guessing with his swing and pace. Other medium pacers Dhaval Kulkarni (2/35) and Abhishek Nayar (3/28), too, bowled some fine overs that saw Mumbai force Gujarat to follow-on.

Even the man in-form Neeraj Patel found it hard to negate Agarkar’s nipping deliveries and ended up giving a catch to Rahane at the slips, adding just one to his overnight score of 60.
Gujarat captain Parthiv Patel, who was included in the India squad on Thursday, showed some resistance but did not survive long enough and got out to Kulkarni. Experienced Bhavik Thaker tried to put up a fight by staying at the wicket. However, he nicked Nayar to wicket-keeper Omkar Gurav after making a 53-ball 11.

Parthiv and Thaker’s dismissal dented Gujarat and their next seven wickets fell for just 22 runs that included five ducks. Jaffer asked them to bat again.

Overcoming the lead of 378 was a tough ask for Gujarat in the second innings. Not bogged down by the early debacle the batsmen appeared stronger on easy wicket after morning moisture had dried out. Agarkar was not much effective, but Dhaval still had the fire in him and bowled brilliantly
to send back opener Priyank Panchal.

Neeraj Patel and Rinkin Chouhan took on the responsibility and fought back. They tested Mumbai bowlers with a 75-run partnership before Abdulla got Chouhan. He tried to sweep but took an edge which went to Murtuza Hussain.

Neeraj added 48 runs and was caught plumb in front of the wicket by Abdulla. Parthiv was left-arm spinner’s third victim. Once the captain fell, Gujarat seemed to give up the fight.

Scorecard
Mumbai 1st innings 544 for 3 decl
Gujarat 1st innings (O/N: 121/2)
N Patel c Rahane b Agarkar 61, P Patel c Sharma b Kulkarni 33, B Thaker c Gurav b Nayar 11, P Parmar lbw b Agarkar 0, Sunny Patel c Hussain b Agarkar 0, S Trivedi b Agarkar 0, JT Makla not out 4, A Makda c Kulkarni b Hussain 0, I Choudhary lbw b Nayar 0; Extras: (LB2, W1, NB15) 18
Total: (all out; 64.5 overs) 162
Fall of wickets: 3-138, 4-140, 5-141, 6-142, 7-142, 8-156, 9-157
Bowling: Agarkar 18-9-35-4, Kulkarni 16-6-35-2, Hussain 8-2-25-1, Nayar 10.5-3-28-3, Powar 9-0-30-0, Abdulla 3-0-7-0
Gujarat 2nd innings (following on)
R Chauhan c Hussain b Abdulla 41, P Panchal b Kulkarni 13, N Patel lbw b Abdulla 48, B Thaker c Gurav b Kulkarni 15, P Patel c Jaffer b Abdulla 10, P Parmar c Jaffer b Abdulla 0, Sunny Patel not out 58, S Trivedi c Jaffer b Iqbal Abdulla 0, J Makla b Kulkarni 15, A Makda c Kukreja b Powar 3, I Choudhary c Nayar b Powar 1 Extras: (LB5, W1, NB5) 11
Total: (all out; 56.4 overs) 215
Fall of wickets: 1-24, 2-99, 3-117, 4-133, 5-133, 6-141, 7-142, 8-196, 9-203
Bowling: Agarkar 5-0-20-0, Kulkarni 16-4-62-3, Hussain 4-0-28-0, Powar 13.4-2-39-2, Nayar 3-1-3-0, Abdulla 15-3-58-5