 Mumbai has won the Ranji Trophy for a record 39th time by beating Karnataka
in a nail-biter of a final at Mysore. The hosts Karnataka were chasing
a target of 338 for a win, but were bowled out for 331 to give Mumbai a six-run
victory on the fourth day of the game.
Mumbai had batted first after winning the toss on a green looking pitch. The
top-order had collapsed in the first innings to be reduced to 106/6 and 143/7
before being rescued on the first day by Vinayak Samant who smashed 67.
In reply, the Karnataka side were bundled out by Avishkar Salvi for a measly
130, with captain Robin Uthappa dismissed for only nine. Manish Pandey, another
of the young guns was lbw off the first ball he faced for a duck, as the side
conceded a lead of 103 to Mumbai.
The second innings did not begin too well for Mumbai either. They lost their
captain at the score of 10 and were soon in a deep mire at 18/3 and soon at
34/4. Vinayak Samant added 17, but it was a stand of 95 between Abhishek Nayar
and Dhawal Kulkarni that resurrected the Mumbai innings.
Nayar was out when Pandey flew himself at the long-on fence to take a Jonty-like
catch, but Kulkarni carried on to score a patient 87. Ramesh Powar supported
him with an unbeaten 28 as Mumbai ended their innings at 234 and set the opposition
a target of 338 for a victory.
Ajit Agarkar then ran through the top order of Karnataka with a three wicket
haul to reduce the opposition to 46/3 including the wicket of Uthappa, before
the home team came into its own. Ganesh Satish and Manish Pandey came
together and saw the side through to the close of play on the third day at 135/3.
On the fourth day, the hosts counter-attacked through their overnight unbeaten
batsman. Pandey was particularly severe on the Mumbai bowlers, and smacked amazing
century, while Satish carried on playing the support role. At one stage, the
hosts were 255/3 and were looking good to lift the trophy when the left-arm
spin of Iqbal Abdullah stuck.
Pandey's innings of 144 - that had come off only 151 balls - was cut short
by Abdullah who managed to induce an edge from the batsman, and he was caught
in the slips. The rest of the batsmen followed soon after as the pressure of
a big match like this seemed to have got to them.
A 36-run stand for the 7th wicket was a saviour to an extent, but after that
the side collapsed to hand the win over to Mumbai.
This is the 39th time Mumbai has won the tournament. Delhi is second
with seven triumphs.
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