Mumbai tighten grip

Catches win matches is one of the most overused clicheacute;s in cricket. If only Vinayak Mane had stayed put at third-slip, and let the edge off Basant Mohanty8217;s bat sail into captain Wasim Jaffer8217;s safe hands in the 12th over of Orissa8217;s first innings, Mumbai would have, in all likelihood, been on their way home with a bonus-point win.

At that time, the hosts were tottering at 26-8 Shib Sunder Das was absent injured, with debutant Rahil Sheikh having scalped two wickets in four balls off his first over. Therafter, Mohanty and wicket-keeper Halhadar Das put together 82 runs for the last wicket as Orissa escaped the embarrassment of being bowled out for their lowest score, posting 108 in their first essay.

In the visitors8217; second innings, Sahil Kukreja and Ajinkya Rahane added 130 runs for the second-wicket stand as Mumbai closed on 133-1, stretching the lead to 205 runs. Earlier, in-form Dhawal Kulkarni ran through the hosts8217; middle order, claiming his third five-wicket haul of the season.

Brief scores: Mumbai 180 038; 133/1 in 46 overs A Rahane 75 batting, S Kukreja 53 vs Orissa 108 all out H Das 62; Kulkarni 5/27.