MUMBAI, April 9: This is no April Fool's prank. Mumbai actually lost eight wickets for ten runs to be bowled out for under 100 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semi-finals, here, today. That, too, in their own backyard of the Wankhede Stadium and against a team which does not have a single player of international status.It was the oft-crowned champion's worst performance in the National Championship in two decades. It was only the fourth time that they have been shot out for a sub-100 total.
The man writing this unbelievable script for UP was 27-year-old seam bowler Ashish Winston Zaidi, who claimed six wickets for 28 runs his last five scalps coming in 25 balls for eight runs.
When stumps were drawn, 89 minutes beyond schedule close, UP had their hands on Mumbai's throat. The question now is: Will they choke their famed rivals to death in the 1997-98 Ranji season or will the reigning champions author another great escape in the annals of the National Championship ?
Just earlier in theseason they were dismissed for 93 in the Irani Trophy game against Rest of India at this very venue in the second innings. Mumbai eventually went on to win the match by 54 runs.
Though Paras Mhambrey (3-40) had UP on the backfoot at 67 for four, Mumbai heightened their miseries by flooring three catches. UP skipper Gyanendra Pandey capitalised on two reprieves to return unbeaten at the end of the day on 64 (78b, 130m, 7x4, 3x6). The southpaw broke the Mumbai shackles to add 112 runs for the fifth wicket with Rizwan Shamshad (43: 131b, 174m, 6x4).
Earlier, skipper Amol Muzumdar's decision to bat first backfired when the UP new ball bowlers Zaidi and Ubaid Kamal claimed openers Amit Pagnis (6) and Sunil More (0) as Mumbai were reduced to nine for two.
Muzumdar walked into the crisis and steadied the innings with Jatin Paranjpe, adding 75 runs for the second wicket. However, a mix-up between the two resulted in the run out of Muzumdar (31: 72b, 114m, 3x4) and in the process triggering a sensational slide.Paranjpe pushed Zaidi to mid-off as the duo set off for a hesitant single. Muzumdar's attempt to reach the crease ended in despair as Kamal pounced on the ball and threw down the stumps with a direct hit.
Zaidi, a product of the MRF Pace Academy, now got into the act. He trapped new man Mandar Phadke (0) leg before wicket with an inswinger off the very next ball.
Vice-captain Sulakshan Kulkarni (0), who replaced Phadke didn't last long either. He played the wrong line and was bowled by Zaidi.
Zaidi sustained his onslaught in the post-lunch session. Wickets fell in every over till Zaidi polished off the innings by claiming Rajesh Pawar (0). His spectacular second spell reading: 4.3-2-12-5.
That only two batsmen could end up in double figures and five failed to open their account speaks volumes about Mumbai's pathetic display.
Mumbai gained some succour when Mhambrey claimed left-handed opener Jyoti Yadav (2). But the second wicket pair of Rakesh Sharma (12) and Saurabh Shukla (30) lingered on for awhile before all-rounder Phadke trapped Sharma. Mhambrey then took charge and claimed Shukla and Mohammad Kaif (7) to raise Mumbai hopes.
However, Pandey and Shamshad led the UP fightback. Grassed on 33 by Amol Muzumdar at first slip off Pawar, Pandey used the long-handle to take the fight into the opposite camp. He hoisted Sairaj Bahutule for three sixes, two of them which in the leg-spinner's third over. Pandey was then dropped by Nilesh Kulkarni at gully on 63 off Kuruvilla before he saw the day through.
Mumbai (1st innings): Amit Pagnis lbw Zaidi 6, Sunil More b Kamal 0, Jatin Paranjpe lbw Zaidi 42, Amol Muzumdar run out 31, Mandar Phadke lbw Zaidi 0, Sulakshan Kulkarni b Zaidi 0, Sairaj Bahutule lbw Saif 0, Paras Mhambrey b Zaidi 4, Rajesh Pawar b Zaidi 0, Abey Kuruvilla run out 4, Nilesh Kulkarni not out 1.
Extras (b2, nb4): 6
Total (all out in 34.3 overs, 178 minutes): 94.
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-9, 3-84, 4-84, 5-84, 6-85, 7-85, 8-89, 9-93.
Bowling: Kamal 10-3-19-1 (nb2), Zaidi11.3-4-29-6, Saif 8-4-22-1, Kaif 1-0-5-0, Shamshad 2-0-11-0, Pandey 2-0-6-0.
Uttar Pradesh (1st innings): Rakesh Sharma lbw Phadke 12, Jyoti Yadav c Paranjpe b Mhambrey 2, Saurabh Shukla c Pagnis b Mhambrey 30, Rizwan Shamshad not out 43, Mohammed Kaif c Phadke b Mhambrey 7, Gyanendra Pandey not out 64.
Extras (lb 4, w4, nb 13): 21.
Total (for four wickets in 54 overs, 259 minutes): 179
Bowling: Kuruvilla 13-2-47-0 (nb9), Mhambrey 16-4-40-3 (nb1, w4), Phadke 3-0-5-1 (nb1), Nilesh Kulkarni 10-3-19-0, Bahutule 6-1-40-0 (nb2), Pawar 6-1-24-0.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
