Mumbai regain Talim Shield

Only last year8217;s zonal champions Baroda could have challenged Mumbai. Having drawn their encounter against Maharashtra at Pune, they would have to battle it out with Saurashtra at Rajkot for the second spot in their concluding match of the zonal league.

While the odds are heavily in favour of Baroda and Saurashtra to claiming the remaining two spots for the Super League, both Maharashtra and Gujarat who face each other at Ahmedabad, would be praying for a result at Rajkot. For, a draw at Rajkot would shunt out both Maharashtra and Gujarat even if either team posts an outright victory.

Mumbai recorded outright victories over Maharashtra and Gujarat, were upstaged by Baroda in the first innings and were forced to a draw by Saurashtra in the zonal league to tally 24 points. The 33-times Ranji champions thus have bounced back in style and became the first team to qualify after a horrendous display last season when they failed to make the grade.

West Zone Ranji Standings
Teams P W D L Pts
Mumbai 4 2 2 8211; 24
Baroda 3 8211; 3 8211; 15
Saurashtra 3 8211; 3 8211; 11
Maharashtra 3 8211; 2 1 8
Gujarat 3 8211; 2 1 6