Emphatic win for Mumbai

VALSAD, November 5: It was massacre of the innocents at the Sardar Patel Stadium. The blitz unleashed by Sachin Tendulkar and Rajesh Sutar ...

VALSAD, November 5: It was massacre of the innocents at the Sardar Patel Stadium. The blitz unleashed by Sachin Tendulkar and Rajesh Sutar left the hapless Gujarat bowling in complete disarray as Mumbai powered to an emphatic eight-wicket victory in their opening encounter of the West Zone Ranji one-day league, here, today.

Chasing a victory target of 173, Mumbai attained their goal in just 26.3 overs to launch the defence of their title in style. Inspired by Ramakant Achrekar8217;s presence, who took time off from a coaching assignment at Navsari 8212; about 60 kilometres from here 8212; to see some of his famous wards in action, Tendulkar belted ten boundaries and two sixes in his 73-ball unbeaten knock of 74.

Matching him in strokeplay was the the 30-year-old Sutar, who smashed 50 in as many balls with six fours and two sixes. The duo strung a 110-run association in 15.5 overs for the opening wicket. As a contest, the match was over by the time Sutar departed to a fine running catch by Nilesh Modi at deep square-leg.

Vinod Kambli too joined the run-feast, slamming two boundaries and two sixes during his 16-ball innings of 28. He, however, played all over a Jaimin Patel delivery.

Earlier Gujarat openers Amrish Kotecha 17 and Nilesh Modi 27, aided by some wayward fast bowling and sloppy fielding, endured the initial phase to log 51 runs in 17.2 overs. But once the spinners were pressed in operation, Gujarat lost their way losing five wickets for 23 runs. However, vice-captain and wicket-keeper batsman Pathik Patel 32 not out, Tejas Varsani 26 and Umesh Belsare 22 stemmed the rot to a certain extent.

On a track offering assistance to fast bowlers, it was the spinning duo of left-arm Nilesh Kulkarni and leggie Sairaj Bahutule who picked up two wickets apiece.

The pacemen were guilty of overstepping and being off-target. However, Paras Mhambrey could consider himself unlucky as he saw the Gujarat openers let off by Amol Muzumdar and Tendulkar in the slips off his bowling.

SCOREBOARD

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GUJARAT: Amrish Kotecha lbw Kuruvilla 17, Nilesh Modi lbw Kulkarni 27, Kalpesh Patdiwala c Kambli b Kulkarni 9, Mukund Parmar b Bahutule 0, Mihir Sheth c Dighe b Bahutule 2, Tejas Varsani c Bahutule b Mhambrey 26, Umesh Belsare c Dighe b Sutar 22, Pathik Patel not out 32, Shyamal Bhatt c Bahutule b Mhambrey 12. Extras: b 1, lb 3, w 9, nb 12: 25. Total for eight wickets in 50 overs; 210 minutes: 172 Fall of wickets: 1-51 Kotecha, 2-71 Modi, 3-72 Patdiwala, 4-74 Parmar, 5-73 Sheth, 6-110 Belsare, 7-159 Varsani, 8-172 Bhatt. Bowling: Kuruvilla 9-0-37-1 w 5, nb 3, Mhambrey 9-1-33-2 w 1, nb 4, Agarkar 5-0-18-0 w 2, nb 3, Bahutule 10-1-27-2 w 1, nb 2, Kulkarni 10-1-20-2; Sutar 7-0-33-1

MUMBAI: Rajesh Sutar c Modi b J Patel 50, Sachin Tendulkar not out 74, Vinod Kambli b J Patel 28, Sanjay Manjrekar not out 16; Extras: lb 1, w 2, nb 2: 5. Total for two wickets in 26.4 overs; 115 mins: 173. Fall of wickets: 1-110 Sutar, 2-147 Kambli. Bowling: J Patel 10-0-55-2 nb 1, w 2, Bhat 5-0-35-0, Sheth 3-0-27-0 nb 1, H Patel 5-0-40-0, Belsare 3.4-0-15-0.