Mumbai on verge of CK Nayudu glory

Mumbai U-25 coach Rajesh Pawar

Mumbai U-25 are on the verge of winning the CK Nayudu Trophy through their first innings lead over Vidarbha, who were bowled out for 385 at Ahmedabad on Tuesday while replying to Mumbai's 468.

Left-arm spinner Shams Mulani's 4-113 and two wickets each from pacer Minad Manjrekar and leg-spinner Khizar Dafedar caused the damage for Vidarbha.

‘The match is not over yet'

Mumbai ended Day Three with 14 for no loss in their second innings for an overall lead of 97 runs. However, there is a clear message for the Hardik Tamore-led Mumbai side from coach Rajesh Pawar: The match is not finished yet. "We are not taking things lightly. The match is not over. The boys played well throughout the first three days and they need to play well on the last day as well. All the players are aware of this and are focused," Pawar told mid-day from Ahmedabad.

When asked to comment on Mumbai's bowling efforts, Pawar remarked: "It's a total team effort. Shams bowled well. Minad gave us two important wickets at crucial times and [off-spinner] Maxwell Swaminathan broke the 104-run partnership [with MR Kale 60] and dismissed their captain [Srikant Wath for 55]."

U-19 boys in command too

The Mumbai U-19 team are also in a strong position as Maharashtra trailed by 156 runs at stumps on Day Three in the Cooch Behar semi-final at Kolkata.

In reply to Mumbai's 472, Maharashtra were 316-9 on Tuesday.

Off-spinner Aayush Jethwa scalped three while left-arm spinner Musheer Khan and pacer Amanullah Manihar claimed two wickets each.