Mulani in tune again!

Mumbai’s Shams Mulani displays the ball as his side return to the pavilion in their Ranji game v Andhra Pradesh at BKC yesterday. Pic/Atul Kamble

Forty-one time champions Mumbai are on the verge of securing their second successive thumping win of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. On Sunday, it was a contest between the Mumbai bowlers, especially left-arm spinner Shams Mulani (6-65 and 3-63) and the Andhra Pradesh batsmen in their Elite Group ‘B' encounter at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex ground.

Hosts enforce follow-on

Mulani claimed six scalps to play a key role in bowling out the visitors for just 184. When the hosts enforced the follow-on, he was at it again, claiming three wickets as AP ended Day Three with 164-5 in the second innings. The visitors trail by 47 runs. On Saturday, Mulani sent back Andhra's No. 3 Shaik Rasheed (3) and No. 4 Hanuma Vihari (6). He was rewarded for his accuracy and disciplined bowling with another four wickets. His scalps included skipper Ricky Bhui.

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Experienced pacer Dhawal Kulkarni (3-38) supported him well. "I was just trying to bowl in the right areas. The odd ball was skidding on because of the grass and that was taking the batsmen by surprise. My normal-paced deliveries were not doing that much," Mulani explained, when asked about his plans after claiming Vihari and Bhui.

Mulani gave Mumbai early breaks in the second innings as well. He had CR Gnaneshwar (9) when Mohit Avasthi took a splendid catch at mid-off and then disturbed Uppara Girinath's furniture for a duck, which left the visitors struggling at 11-2. Vihari (46, 6x4) looked settled, but pulled left-arm pacer Royston Dias's (1-39) short-pitched delivery only to edge it to wicketkeeper Prasad Pawar.

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No. 6 batsman Rasheed (52 not out, 6x4, 1x6) and bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy (22 not out, 2x4, 1x6) batted sensibly to deprive the hosts of another dismissal. However, Reddy was lucky to be dropped by Shreyas Iyer at mid-off when on 22.

11 fifers for Mulani

Mulani, 26, now has 11 fifers to his credit in 30 first-class games and who is to say he can't get his 12th on Monday? "Each day when I step onto the field I feel I have to give my best for the team. And it's not always about fifers. It's about crossing the line and making the team win - that's more important for me and that's what I look forward to. Yes, milestones are always special for everyone and for me as well," Mulani remarked.

In the last match, Mulani enforced the follow-on and helped outclass Bihar by an innings and 51 runs when he led the team in the absence of Ajinkya Rahane. And they did it again on Sunday. When asked about the team's mindset, Mulani said: "That shows how dominant we are in the bowling unit right now. All the guys are doing very well by supporting each other. I think it's a good start for us and let's hope we keep this momentum going. There are five games after this and it's a long season. A lot can happen and if we keep being disciplined, I think it will be easier for us to qualify [for the knockouts]."