Mumbai march into final in style

The 33-times champions now locks horns with the Mohammed Azharuddin-led Hyderabad team at the same venue from April 19.

Tamil Nadu seemed to have thrown in the towel. The pace department wentcompletely out of service and bowling operations were handled mostly by non-regular bowlers.

Dighe and Paranjpe used the opportunity to get some good match practice ahead of the summit clash. Paranjpe essayed some fluent drives and had the satisfaction of striking the winning runs — a straight drive off Sadagopan Ramesh.

It was befitting that Sachin Tendulkar (13 not out), who loomed large over the contest, was present in the middle during the conclusion of the final rites. The maestro, later said his first innings epic of 233 not out which shut out Tamil Nadu’s hopes was one of the best that he ever played. “It came at the right time when the team needed it the most. One realises the value of the achievement when the chips are down. It was one of the most important innings I’ve played in my life. Even if it wasn’t Test cricket, playing for Mumbai is equally important. And I would like to put this innings right up there.”

Complimenting Tendulkar’s effort was coach Ashok Mankad. “The manner in which the team responded to Tendulkar’s innings reflected how positive energy can work. It is going to take us to the final with our heads high. Hopefully, by the grace of the Lord, we will prove that we are one of the best sides in Indian cricket.”

Tendulkar also termed the keenly-contested encounter as one of the best, saying: “It was probably, one of the best game I’ve played and that includes any Test match, one-dayer or side game. I’m sure the spectators also enjoyed it. Till the last moment you didn’t knew who was going to win. And that is the beauty of the game.”

Mankad too waxed eloquent on the match, saying: “If we take a leaf out of this game, Indian cricket has a great future.”

Such had been the influence of Tendulkar in the game that skipper Sameer Dighe almost got sidelined. But the dapper wicket-keeper wasn’t complaining. “He is so much involved in the game that it rubs on to the others. He is always motivating the guys too. The bottomline is we play together as a team.”

For Tamil Nadu it was a case of being so near and yet so far. Skipper Robin Singh emphasised that in his post-match chat with newsmen. “We had no business to lose. After the first day’s play (when TN scored 397-4), we should have scored 600. That was the first setback. Then we didn’t bowl well and weren’t consistent with our displays. You couldn’t have got a better chance of beating Mumbai. I wouldn’t like to offer any excuses as we had our chances but we didn’t take it.”

The Tendulkar Effect wasn’t lost out on Robin. “It was as if we were playing an international game. Sachin realised that the pressure was on and he was the mainstay. Normally, he would have taken on the bowlers a bit more. But he played according to what was required. It is basically will that separates him from the others.”

Tamil Nadu were defeated, but not disgraced. The manner in which they made Mumbai toil, despite lacking potency in the attack, in the first innings was exemplary. Hemang Badani, who raked up scores of 162 and 63, was the success story for TN in the match. The 24-year-old youngster’s received someattention from Tendulkar too. “He showed good temperament. He stayed there and was prepared to take the challenge.”

Tendulkar, however, wasn’t willing to jump the gun while talking about the middle-order batsman. “Give him some more time before passing a judgement.”

Badani’s skipper Robin, however, felt that the southpaw has to be more consistent to be in the reckoning.

All said and done, the match would be best remembered for Tendulkar’s grit and his determination to stay put till the job was accomplished.

SCOREBOARD

Tamil Nadu (1st innings): 485

Mumbai (1st innings): 490

Tamil Nadu (2nd innings): 171

Mumbai (2nd innings; overnight 104-1):

Sameer Dighe c Kumaran b Ramesh (108b, 151m, 10×4) 73
Wasim Jaffer c Ramesh b Kapoor (48b, 71m, 2×4) 15
Jatin Paranjpe not out (93b, 102m, 7×4, 2×6) 27
Sachin Tendulkar not out (23b, 22m, 1×4) 13
Extras: (5b, 4lb, 4nb) 13
Total: (for two wickets in 44.4 overs; 174 mins) 169
Fall of wicket: 1-39 (Jaffer, 14), 2-144 (Dighe, 37)
Bowling: Kumaran 3-0-10-0, Mahesh 4-3-6-0, Gokulakrishnan 2-1-2-0, Kapoor 8-1-46-1 (4nb), Sriram 13-1-43-0, Badani 5-0-21-0, Ramesh 5.4-0-28-1, Singh 4-0-4-0
Result: Mumbai won by eight wickets.