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MUMBAI, November 19: Defending champions Mumbai needed just 21 balls this morning to complete the final rites of Maharashtra on the final d...

MUMBAI, November 19: Defending champions Mumbai needed just 21 balls this morning to complete the final rites of Maharashtra on the final day of their four-day Ranji Trophy contest today.

With only one wicket standing in Mumbai8217;s way, they trooped out on the Brabourne Stadium ground only to return 15 minutes later with a 311-run victory under their belt.

The last pair which was at the crease when play ended yesterday at 92 for nine, threw their bats around to register the highest partnership of the innings. The 30-run stand for the tenth wicket ended with the dismissal of Milind Kulkarni 13, stumped by Sulakshan Kulkarni off left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar, who thus picked up his fourth wicket.

Iqbal Siddiqui remained unbeaten on 20 8212; the highest scorer in Maharashtra innings 8212; aptly reflecting the failure of their frontline batsmen.

While Mumbai skipper Sanjay Manjrekar termed the Maharashtra collapse as 8220;unexpected8221;, his counterpart Shantanu Sugwekar refused to comment on his team8217;s display.

8220;I have no comments to make,8221; remarked Sugwekar, who was the only batsman in the Maharashtra camp to post a 50-plus score.

Mumbai coach Balwinder Singh Sandhu, while expressing satisfaction at his team8217;s performance, pointed out certain flaws in the Maharashtra batsmen. 8220;Besides lacking application, there were technical defects too. Most of the batsmen were playing away from the body,8221; he said.

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Mumbai fined: The only reversal for Mumbai in the match was the five per cent fine levied on the team for falling short of the over rate by five overs in the first innings.

Interestingly, there was no Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI observer for the match. Sanjay Jagdale, who was nominated for the post, failed to turn up.

Mumbai, leading the points tally with 16 points, travel to Vadodara for their third encounter from November 29, while Maharashtra proceed to Ahemadabad to take on Gujarat on the same date.

Jaffer, Bahutule return: Mumbai opener Wasim Jaffer and leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule make a return to the team for the one-day and Ranji matches against Vadodara.

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Both Jaffer and Bahutule had missed the encounter against Maharashtra as they were included in the Board President8217;s XI that took on the Sri Lankans in a three-dayer earlier in the week.

Their return marks the exit of batsmen Manoj Joglekar, Nishit Shetty and medium-pacers Mandar Phadke and Vishal Mahadik from the team that played Maharashtra.

SCOREBOARD

Mumbai 1st innings: 426

Maharashtra 1st innings: 201

Mumbai 2nd innings: 208-3 decl

Maharashtra 2nd innings overnight 92-9: Surendra Bhave b Agarkar 7, Niranjan Godbole c Agarkar b Mhambrey 2, Abhijit Kale st S Kulkarni b Pawar 18, Nikhil Dixit b Agarkar 2, Shantanu Sugwekar c Manjrekar b Agarkar 9, Indrajeet Kamtekar b Mhambrey 18, Sanjay Kondhalkar c S Kulkarni b Pawar 0, Mandar Sane c Manjrekar b Pawar 13, Sameer Inamdar c S Kulkarni b Agarkar 16, Iqbal Siddiqui not out 20, Milind Kulkarni st S Kulkarni b Pawar 13; Extras b1, nb3 4. Total all out in 35.3 overs; 172 minutes 122

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-14, 4-28, 5-49, 6-57, 7-57, 8-86, 9-86, 10-92

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Bowling: Mhambrey 11-1-38-2, Saxena 5-2-12-0, Agarkar 11-1-38-4, Pawar 8.3-2-33-4.