Spinner Shams shines with 10-wicket match haul as Mumbai beat Andhra Pradesh by 10 wickets for two-out-of-two outright wins in Ranji season
Mumbai players celebrate an Andhra Pradesh wicket on the final day of their Ranji Trophy match at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Bandra-Kurla Complex ground yesterday. Pic/Khan
Mumbai outclassed Andhra Pradesh by 10 wickets in their Elite Group ‘B’ Ranji Trophy match at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Bandra-Kurla Complex ground on Monday. This was the second successive outright win for the 41-time champions who picked up a valuable seven points from it.
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AP’s poor show
On the final day, Andhra Pradesh managed to add just 80 runs to their overnight score of 164-5, following which Mumbai’s opening pair of Jay Bista (26 not out) and Bhupen Lalwani (8 not out) comfortably scored the required 34 runs for victory.
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Mumbai’s Player of the Match Shams Mulani. Pic/Shadab Khan
For Mumbai, left-arm spinner Shams Mulani claimed a 10-wicket match haul (6-65 and 4-96), while pacers Royston Dias and Mohit Avasthi took three and two wickets respectively in the second innings.
After two dominating performances at the start of the season [Mumbai beat Bihar in their Ranji season-opener], skipper Ajinkya Rahane wants the team to continue playing with the same intent.
“We want to play with the same attitude and mindset. The mindset is always about winning the match. It’s been a very good start for us this season. The challenge is to be consistent because when you want to win the Ranji Trophy, it’s all about consistency across a period of time. We are looking to take one game at a time. With the home and away format, the conditions keep changing, so we have to be in the moment. Now, we have to see how the wicket will be in Kerala [Mumbai’s next match is in Thumba, starting on January 19] and play as per those conditions,” Rahane said after the win.
Mumbai’s bowlers deliver
Mumbai’s bowlers played a crucial role in getting the 20 wickets and Rahane said that the decision to enforce the follow-on was also a crucial one. “The [follow-on decision was instinctive as such opportunities are very rare. If you read the situation and can sniff an opportunity for seven points, it’s always helpful in the future.”
Rahane lavished praise on consistent performer Mulani. “Shams has been doing really well for us for the last two-three seasons, both, as a bowler and batsman. Shams and even Tanush [Kotian], whenever the team have needed them, they have performed. Till a player gets enough opportunity, you can’t say if he’s ready [for national duty] or not, but I’m really happy for Shams,” added Rahane, 35.
The veteran of 85 Tests signed off revealing a double target that he has set for himself: “My aim is to lift the Ranji Trophy and the bigger aim is to play 100 Tests.”
Brief scores
Mumbai 395 & 34-0 (J Bista 26*, B Lalwani 8*) beat Andhra Pradesh 184 & 244 (S Rasheed 66, H Vihari 46; S Mulani 4-96, R Dias 3-45) by 10 wickets
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