A defiant display by Gujarat's last wicket pair -- wicket-keeper Pathik Patel and last man Lalit Patel -- alongwith Mumbai medium-pacer Santosh Saxena's first spell of the day were the only bright spots of the day's proceedings.

Seamer Abey Kuruvilla provided the breakthrough, trapping Tejas Varsani (21) when Gujarat resumed the day on 140 for three. Varsani's exit also marked the most fruitful association of the innings worth 68 runs formed in the company of skipper Mukund Parmar (58: 76b, 115m, 11x4).

Parmar, too, followed suit -- Saxena clipping his off-stump with a well-directed yorker. The 21-year-old Saxena, who staked his claim in the Mumbai team by emerging as the most successful bowler in local competitions, justifiedhis prowess by dismissing Bhavin Mehta (2) and Hiren Patel (0) in his 12th over paving way for an impressive spell (5-1-9-3).

Left-arm spinner Rajesh Pawar, who was operating from the opposite end, complimented Saxena by dismissing Kirat Damani (2) and Bhavik Patel (4).

Gujarat, who were cruising at 164 for three at one stage, charted a disastrous course losing the next six wickets for the addition of a mere 25 runs.

However, the Patel combine -- Pathik and Lalit -- delayed the inevitable with a rollicking alliance of 67 runs off just 11.3 overs. Pathik was the more authoritative of the two, playing some elegant drives on either side of the wicket. He was particularly severe on Saxena, picking up six boundaries -- four of them in succession -- in his unbeaten knock of 44 (56b, 63m, 9x4).

Pawar, who too was at the receiving end, finally ended Mumbai's frustrations dismissing Lalit Patel (23: 33b, 44m, 3x4, 1x6). Mumbai, who garnered eight points travel to Rajkot for their second zonal clash againstSaurashtra from November 29.

Gujarat, who suffered their second innings defeat on a trot after losing to Maharashtra, have almost a month to work upon their weaknesses before they take on Saurashtra from December 27.

Scoreboard

Gujarat (1st innings): 90

Mumbai (1st innings): 373-5 decl

Gujarat (2nd innings) (overnight 140-3):

Amrish Kotecha c Dighe b Mhambrey 41, Nilesh Modi b Kuruvilla 34, Niraj Patel c Tendulkar b Kuruvilla 12, Mukund Parmar b Saxena 58, Tejas Varsani lbw Kuruvilla 21, Kirat Damani b Pawar 2, Bhavin Mehta lbw Saxena 2, Pathik Patel not out 44, Hiren Patel c Dighe b Saxena 0, Bhavik Patel c sub (Joglekar) b Pawar 4, Lalit Patel c & b Pawar 23; Extras: (b<\!q>4, lb<\!q>2, w<\!q>1, nb<\!q>8): 15. Total (all out in 59.1 overs, 280 mins): 256

Fall of wickets:1-48, 2-83, 3-96, 4-164, 5-180, 6-180, 7-184, 8-184, 9-184

Bowling:Kuruvilla 13-3-65-3 (w1), Mhambrey 11-4-37-1 (nb4), Saxena 15-3-69-3 (nb3), Pawar 16.1-3-58-3 (nb1), Sutar 1-0-6-0, Tendulkar3-1-15-0.