Mumbai on course for lead

SAS NAGAR, March 6: On a day when fortunes swapped sides, two performances held the centre stage. Left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni's two str...

SAS NAGAR, March 6: On a day when fortunes swapped sides, two performances held the centre stage. Left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni’s two strikes in five balls in the morning session and diminutive opener Amit Pagnis’ strokeful 56 (77b, 10×4) in the last session placed Mumbai on course for the crucial first innings lead on the third day of the four day Ranji Trophy Group `A’ Super League match against Punjab at the PCA Stadium here today.

After Punjab tailenders rallied to take the team total to a respectable 272, Mumbai were 121 for 2 when stumps were drawn for the day.

Nilesh Kulkarni bowled superbly to claim Amit Sharma (46) and Manav Mehra (0), in quick succession. And when Sandeep Sharma (1) fell to medium-pacer Santosh Saxena, Punjab, had crashed from a seemingly healthy 182 for 4 to reel at 187 for 7.

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Tailenders Ashish Kapoor (34), Bharti Vij (27), Navdeep Singh (14) and Bharat Bhushan (14 n.o.) all came up with useful contributions as the last three wickets added almost hundred runs.

Pagniswith his strokeful display provided Mumbai the ideal start despite losing his opening partner Sulakshan Kulkarni (13) early. The 19-year-old left-hander’s stay was cut short when he was trapped lbw by off-spinner Kapoor.

Sunil More (25) and Amol Muzumdar (12) then saw the day through without any hiccups.

SCOREBOARD

Punjab (1st innings; overnight 175-4): Vikram Rathore c Pagnis b Mhambrey 10, Ravneet Ricky c S Kulkarni b Saxena 0, Pankaj Dharmani c S Kulkarni b Mhambrey 96, Dinesh Mongia c S Kulkarni b N Kulkarni 13, Amit Sharma c S Kulkarni b N Kulkarni 46, Ashish Kapoor c Mhambrey b N Kulkarni 34, Manav Mehra c More b N Kulkarni 0, Sandeep Sharma c More b Saxena 1, Bharti Vij c Phadke b Sutar 27, Navdeep Singh lbw Mhambrey 14, Bharat Bhushan n.o. 14; Extras: (nb-3, lb-7, b-7) 17. Total (allout in 129.3 overs) 272

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Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-28, 3-65, 4-148, 5-182, 6-182, 7-187, 8-236, 9-243

Bowling: Mhambrey 35.3-15-54-3, Saxena 26-9-70-2, Phadke 4-2-3-0, N Kulkarni42-17-77-4, Pawar 18-6-41-0, Sutar 4-0-13-1

Mumbai (1st innings): Amit Pagnis lbw A Kapoor 56, Sulakshan Kulkarni c A Sharma b Bhushan 13, Sunil More batting 25, Amol Muzumdar batting 12; Extras: (nb2, w1, lb3, b9) 15. Total (for two wickets in 41 overs): 121

Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-99

Bowling: S Sharma 9-1-36-0, Bhushan 8-3-16-1, Kapoor 11-3-32-1, Vij 9-3-17-0, N Singh 4-3-8-0

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