MUMBAI, February 5: Mumbai bulldozed their way on the opening today in the Group `A' Ranji Trophy Super League encounter against Railways. Despite their wayward bowling, Mumbai derailed the opposition for a paltry 124. The Mumbai batsmen then drove home the advantage in style.Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli led the Mumbai run-charge, stringing an unbroken stand of 106 runs in 16.4 overs. While Tendulkar stroked his way to an unbeaten 52 (59b, 86m, 10x4), Kambli's flamboyance has fetched him 62 (55b, 68m, 8x4, 3x6) so far.
Put into bat on a seaming Wankhede Stadium track, the Railways batsmen came up with an insipid display. Left-hander Prahlad Rawat, who topscored with 40 (78b, 141m, 4x4), was the solitary Railways batsman to battle it out.
The fact that the extras -- a total of 19, inclusive of 15 no balls -- emerged the third highest scorer speaks for the inept Railways batting display.
Seamers Paras Mhambrey (4-43) and Abey Kuruvilla (3-47) inflicted most of the damage while left-arm spinnerNilesh Kulkarni took 2-4 as the Railways innings ended 62 minutes into the second session.
Left-handed Amit Pagnis (30: 60b, 88m, 6x4) and Sulakshan Kulkarni (45: 78b, 118m, 8x4) began the Mumbai reply on a cautious note adding 73 runs for the opening wicket. Pagnis, the India under-19 skipper, flourished with fluent off-drives before a rash stroke saw him perish at gully. Wicket-keeper Kulkarni too didn't last long.
Sanjay Manjrekar (30: 32b, 47m, 5x4), who had replaced Pagnis, came up with a cameo before playing uppishly into square-leg's hands. But by then Mumbai had overtaken the Railways score in the 27th over.
Manjrekar's departure marked the arrival of two of the best batsmen in business -- Tendulkar and Kambli. The dynamic duo feasted of the toothless attack and the the run flowed in torrents.
The Mumbai skipper triggered the onslaught spanking four boundaries in a Zaved Zaman over. Kambli followed suit by plucking as many boundaries off medium-pacer Zakir Hussain. He savaged off-spinnerMurali Karthik, clouting him for three sixes, one of which landed over the stadium roof.
And when play ended 75 minutes behind schedule, Mumbai were on course of a victory.
SCOREBOARD
Railways (1st innings): Sanjay Bangar lbw Kuruvilla 4, Satyendra Yadav lbw Kuruvilla 1, Vishal Sharma lbw Ranade 21, Yere Gowda b Mhambrey 2, Prahlad Rawat c Muzumdar b Nilesh Kulkarni 40, Saket Bhatia c Sulakshan Kulkarni b Kuruvilla 18, Zakaria Zuffri c Manjrekar b Mhambrey 10, Zakir Hussain c Sulakshan Kulkarni b Mhambrey 0, Mani Suresh Kumar c Mhambrey b Nilesh Kulkarni 5, Kulamani Parida c Ranade b Mhambrey 4, Zaved Zaman not out 0,
Extras (lb 2, w 2, nb 15): 19.
Total (all out in 42.4 overs, 216 minutes): 124
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-14, 3-26, 4-39, 5-87, 6-113, 7-113, 8-117, 9-120
Bowling: Kuruvilla 12-1-47-3 (nb7), Mhambrey 16.4-3-43-4 (nb5, w1), Ranade 8-1-26-1 (nb3, w1), Tendulkar 2-0-2-0, Nilesh Kulkarni 4-2-4-2
Mumbai (1st innings): Amit Pagnis c Yadav bZaman 30, Sulkashan Kulkarni c & b Zaman 45, Sanjay Manjrekar c sub (Kapoor) b Bangar 30, Sachin Tendulkar batting 52, Vinod Kambli batting 62,
Extras: (8b, 2lb, 2w, 11nb) 23.
Total: (for three wickets in 45.2 overs, 205 minutes): 242
Fall of wickets: 1-73, 2-107, 3-135
Bowling: Hussain 13-1-71-0 (5nb), Zaman 9-1-61-2 (3nb, 1w), Bangar 7-0-33-1 (nb3, w1), Parida 9-2-50-0, Suresh Kumar 6-2-12-0, Bhatia 1-0-5-0.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
