UP handshake away from an epic victory

Skipper Amol Muzumdar (87: 240b, 392m, 11×4), Jatin Paranjpe (83: 160b, 249m, 10×4) and Sairaj Bahutule (44 not out: 59b, 95m, 5×4) were the pivots of the Mumbai fightback which bettered their first innings’ horror show by 234 runs. Equally laudable was the perseverance and the consistency in line and length exhibited by UP medium-pacers, who toiled manfully to restrict the opposition.

While Obaid Kamal reaped the benefits most, claiming five wickets for 58 runs from 31 overs, the 22-year-oldMohammad Saif claimed three for 86. The first innings hero Ashish Winston Zaidi had to be content with just one wicket after labouring for 35 overs.

“Claiming five wickets against Mumbai at this venue (Wankhede) under humid conditions would rank as the best,” opined the 26-year-old Allahbad-born Kamal, who had also represented Punjab for two seasons.

Earlier, Mumbai’s hopes of a big lead, after they resumed the day at 145-2, were dashed when Paranjpe cut Kamal straight to Saif at point. The left-hander, who had defied the opposition for more than an hour this morning, by then had furnished a 122-run platform in the company of Muzumdar for the latter order batsmen to capitalise.

However, Paras Mhambrey (4), promoted in the order, and Mandar Phadke (1) fell cheaply to further dent Mumbai’s cause. Mumbai coach Balwinder Singh Sandhu defended the move to send Mhambrey before Phadke. “Our plan was to tire out their bowlers for the later batsmen to launch an attack. The plan was almost successful but forthe early dismissals of Paras and Mandar,” he said.

Muzumdar, then found an able ally in his deputy Sulakshan Kulkarni (14) and the duo strung a 67-run association for the sixth wicket. And just when it seemed that Mumbai were gaining control, Kamal struck a double blow with the new ball, which was taken an over earlier (92nd).

Muzumdar, who exhibited an admirable display of patience in his knock, was the first to depart when he was trapped leg before wicket. Five balls later, Kulkarni edged a rising delivery to wicket-keeper Manoj Mudgal. Mumbai then were just 56 runs ahead.

The dash of the left-handed pair of Bahutule and the 19-year-old Rajesh Pawar (21), guaranteed a three-figure lead with their audacious strokeplay. They came up with Mumbai’s most productive alliance of 48 runs in 11.4 overs before Pawar fell, trying to cut part-time bowler Rizwan Shamshad.

Bahutule, who was indisposed and had come out bat in flannel, was however, stranded at the other end as the tail fell prey to lbw decisions.Test discard Abey Kuruvilla gave a sensational start to Mumbai’s aspirations by claiming Rakesh Sharma with the very first delivery of the innings. Left-arm spinner Pawar then complimented him by claiming Saurabh Shukla (15) in his first over to send a scare into the UP camp. However, opener Jyoti Yadav (5) and Rizwan Shamshad (4) survived the day to take the battle into the fourth day after play ended 85 minutes behind schedule. UP coach Venkat Sunderam, while sounding upbeat about his team’s chances tomorrow, commented: “If we can’t score 128 runs, then we don’t deserve to be in the final.”

SCOREBOARD

Mumbai (1st innings): 94

Uttar Pradesh (1st innings): 293

Mumbai (2nd innings, overnight 145-2): A Pagnis c Sharma b Saif 29, S More c Sharma b Kamal 11, J Paranjpe c Saif b Kamal 83, A Muzumdar lbw Kamal 87, P Mhambrey c Mudgal b Saif 4, M Phadke c Saif b Kamal 1, S Kulkarni c Mudgal b Kamal 14, S Bahutule not out 44, R Pawar c Kaif b Shamsad 21, A Kuruvilla lbw Zaidi 5, N Kulkarni lbw Saif3; Extras (b8, lb8, w4, nb6) 26. Total (all out in 112 overs, 552 mins): 328

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-52, 3-174, 4-185, 5-187, 6-254, 7-255 8-303, 9-314

Bowling: Kamal 31-14-58-5 (w1), Zaidi 35-6-128-1 (nb1, w1), Saif 29-2-86-3 (nb5, w3), Pandey 11-3-30-0, Shamsad 5-2-9-1, Yadav 1-0-1-0.

UP(2nd innings): R Sharma c More b Kuruvilla 0, J Yadav batting 5, S Shukla c Muzumdar b Pawar 13, R Shamshad batting 4; Extras (lb1, nb3) 4. Total (for two wickets in 19 overs; 83 minutes) 26

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-22.

Bowling: Kuruvilla 5-2-7-1 (nb3), Mhambrey 7-4-10-0, Nilesh Kulkarni 5-4-4-0, Pawar 2-1-4-1.