Kuruvilla, Mhambrey ravage Gujarat

VALSAD, NOV 8: The Mumbai new ball combine of Abey Kuruvilla and Paras Mhambrey destroyed Gujarat to engineer an early end to the four-day ...

VALSAD, NOV 8: The Mumbai new ball combine of Abey Kuruvilla and Paras Mhambrey destroyed Gujarat to engineer an early end to the four-day Ranji Trophy cricket league match at the Sardar Patel Stadium, here today. Faring worse in their second essay, Gujarat were bundled out for 161, 41 minutes into the second session. In the event, the oft-crowned Ranji champions emerged winners by an innings and 68 runs with almost two sessions and a day to spare.

Resuming at the overnight score of 15 for one and needing 214 to make Mumbai bat again, Gujarat lost opener Nilesh Modi (3) in the third over of the day. Patdiwala and Parmar then defied the Mumbai’s attack in a 43-run stand for the third wicket. However, Patdiwala offered a return catch to Kuruvilla, who then got rid of Parmar, top-edging to fine-leg where Mhambrey completed the catch.

From then on wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and Mumbai coach Balwinder Singh Sandhu had begun charting out travel plans for the team to return home. Mehta and Barot put Sandhu’s plans on hold for almost an hour till Mhambrey stunned Barot with a short-pitched delivery. Mumbai collected eight points from their opening match of the West Zone league. The Gujarat dressing room, however, was enlivened by the the visit of Mumbai skipper Sachin Tendulkar, invited by Parmar to give a pep-talk. Mumbai hosts Maharashtra in their next encounter from November 15 at the Brabourne Stadium. However, it would be a different team that would take the field in the one-dayer and the four-day match. Tendulkar, Kuruvilla and Nilesh Kulkarni would in all probability be attending the camp for the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning at Mohali from Nov 19.

Besides there is a likelihood of more players missing out the crunch match of the zone if they are selected in the Board President’s XI team to play Sri Lanka at Cuttack from Nov 14 to 16.

Meanwhile, India captain Tendulkar did not comment on Anshuman Gaekwad taking over the job of national coach from Madan Lal which was announced at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) AGM in Chennai yesterday. Tendulkar himself awaits news on whether he will be retained as India captain for the forthcoming India-Lanka Test series. The national selection committee will meet in Mumbai on Nov 10 for the purpose.

SCOREBOARD

GUJARAT (1st innings): 182

MUMBAI (1st innings): 411-8 decl

GUJARAT (2nd innings): Amrish Kotecha lbw Kuruvilla 4, Nilesh Modi c Sulakshan Kulkarni b Mhambrey 3, Kalpesh Patdiwala c & b Kuruvilla 28, Mukund Parmar c Mhambrey b Kuruvilla 20, Tejas Varsani c Mhambrey b Saxena 10, Umesh Belsare c Jaffer b Mhambrey 26, Bhavin Mehta c Saxena b Bahutule 36, Pathik Patel c Bahutule Mhambrey 0, Shyamal Bhatt c Sulakshan Kulkarni b Bahutule 0, Dhiren Barot c Nilesh Kulkarni b Mhambrey 24, Bhavik Patel not out 0. Extras (b 2, lb 2, w 1, nb 5): 10. Total (all out in 54.2 overs; 259 minutes): 161.

Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-17, 3-60, 4-63, 5-79 , 6-105, 7-105, 8-106, 9-161, 10-161

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Bowling: Kuruvilla 13-2-34-3 (nb 3), Mhambrey 18-8-46-4 (nb 1); Nilesh Kulkarni 5-2-6-0; Bahutule 10.2-1-33-2 (w 1); Saxena 8-1-38-1 (nb 1)

Result: Mumbai won by an innings and 68 runs