Ranji Trophy: Mumbai register first win of season thanks to pace bowlers

Pace bowlers Dhawal and Akash claim three wickets apiece to help visitors thrash Odisha by 120 runs and earn six points on the final day of their Ranji Trophy encounter in Bhubaneswar

Mumbai clinched its first win of the season by thrashing Odisha by 120 runs in the Ranji Trophy Group 'C' match at KIIT Stadium on Saturday. Resuming on the overnight score of 93 for four, Odisha capitulated in less than two sessions as Akash Parkar and Dhawal Kulkarni finished with three wickets apiece. Chasing 413 for an unlikely win, the home side were never in the hunt, losing wickets at regular intervals with only captain Govind Poddar offering resistance, with a knock of 87.

Mumbai pacer Dhawal Kulkarni bowls against Tamil Nadu in Mumbai last month. Pic/Sameer Markande

Poddar impresses
Poddar put on 90 runs with Shantanu Mitra (49) before falling to Abhishek Nayar, who also ended Biplab Samantaray's doughty resistance, by bowling him for 31. Some lower-order resistance delayed the visitors' victory with Suryakant Rawat hitting three sixes n his 21-ball 32. With the win, the 41-time Ranji champion moved to 10 points in the group. Mumbai next faces Baroda at home in what would be its 500th Ranji Trophy game, beginning November 9. Odisha will meet Tamil Nadu in its next fixture at Cuttack from November 9.

Akash Parkar

Andhra on top
In another Group 'C' game, Andhra Pradesh cruised to an eight-wicket win over Madhya Pradesh at Vizianagaram to gain six points. Subsequently, Andhra moved to the top of the points table with 15 points, one more than MP.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!