Mumbai in control!

Shams Mulani (second from left) celebrates the wicket of Mahesh Pithiya at BKC yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble

Baroda's batsmen fought hard, but the Mumbai bowlers bounced back strongly, to bowl out the visitors for 348 and secure a 36-run first innings lead in their Ranji Trophy quarter-final at MCA's Bandra-Kurla Complex ground on Sunday. Mumbai were 21-1 at stumps on Day Three.

It was a frustrating first session for the Mumbai bowlers as overnight batsmen - Baroda skipper Vishnu Solanki (136, 14x4) and Shashwat Rawat (124, 15x4) - played a positive brand of cricket. Rawat added 55 to his overnight score of 69.

Deshpande strikes

Finally, in the third over after lunch, pacer Tushar Deshpande (2-52) broke their 174-run third wicket partnership, dismissing Rawat through slip fielder Prithvi Shaw. Deshpande's timely breakthrough brought Mumbai back in the game. Unfortunately, Shaw injured his finger while taking Rawat's catch and didn't open with Bhupen Lalwani in the second innings.

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Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani (4-121) got the rewards for his long spell of 38 overs. His 27th over changed the equation in favour of the hosts when he got the wickets of No. 5 Shivalik Sharma (seven) and wicketkeeper-batsman Mitesh Patel (0) off successive deliveries. At tea, Baroda were at 311-7, still trailing by 73 runs.

However, Solanki, who started proceedings at his overnight score of 23, looked solid during his 291-ball, six-plus hours' stay at the crease. Solanki succeeded in scoring his ninth first-class century in his 41st game, but Deshpande didn't allow him to take the first innings lead, bowling a bouncer to Solanki, which was declared a wide.

Solanki finally falls

He then tested Solanki's patience by bowling an away-going delivery, which almost got the right-hander but missed the edge by a whisker. He repeated the ball, which Solanki edged to 'keeper Hardik Tamore. Later, Mumbai lost opener Lalwani (six), while Tamore and night-watchman Mohit Avasthi remained unbeaten on 12 and three respectively. Solanki, meanwhile reckoned it is an open game for both teams. "Still two days to go, there is some help from the wicket. So, anything can happen," he said.

Brief scores
Mumbai 384 (M Khan 203', H Tamore 57; B Bhatt 7-112) & 21-1 v Baroda 348 (V Solanki 136, S Rawat 124; S Mulani 4-121, T Kotian 2-49, T Deshpande 2-52)