Dhawal Kulkarni trapped overnight batsman Ashok Menaria in the very second over of the day, and that left the visitors tottering at 68 for five. The end appeared near but the last recognised pair of Gagan Khoda and Robin Bisht only delayed the inevitable. It took Usman Malvi to break the resistance with the pair adding 51 runs for the sixth-wicket.

Bisht’s departure opened up the gates for Mumbai bowlers to go for the kill. Malvi in his very next over had Khoda caught leg before with a ball that cut in sharply and kept a bit low. The Rajasthan tail comprising the pace duo of Sumit Mathur and Pankaj Singh held on and took the fight beyond lunch.

But their slight resistance was soon over when Kulkarni sent his stumps rattling to get his fourth wicket of the innings and ninth in the match. Off-spinner Ramesh Powar then had Pankaj stumped and soon had last man Gajendra Singh caught at first slip by skipper Wasim Jaffer.

Mumbai skipper Jaffer was happy with the win in their opening clash. “It’s a good start as it gives us momentum to carry on to our next match against Gujarat,” said Jaffer.

“I have played in Surat, I think in 1999-2000. It was a good wicket with red soil. It also had some bounce for the fast bowlers,” said Jaffer.

Jaffer was also impressed with the way Kulkarni bowled in the match. “He bowled well on his debut and that shows he has the potential. He was bowling a bit short, but then I advised him to pitch the ball up which paid dividends for us,” said the skipper.