Mumbai reeling against Saurashtra

Rajkot: Debutant left-arm seamer Balkrishna Jadeja's splendid opening spell helped Saurashtra to tighten noose around Mumbai when they got the visitors all out at 214 and took a huge 429-run first innings lead on the third and penultimate day of their fourth round of Elite Division Ranji Trophy match here.

Mumbai, whose primary goal was to score 493 runs to avoid follow-on after Saurashtra's skipper Jaydev Shah declared the inning at overnight 643 for 4, failed to get a good start and lost their wickets at regular intervals against some disciplined bowling by the hosts bowlers.

Only Hiken Shah, Sairaj Bahutule and number 10 batsman Usman Malvi could resistant the hosts attack led by Balkrishna Jadeja.

Jadeja struck in his very first over got in-form batsman Ajinkya Rahane (0) in front of the wicket. Sahil Kukreja (04) Amol Mazumdar (0) and skipper Wasim Jaffer (12) too failed to negotiate the Jadeja's swing.

Jadeja exploiting the condition of moisture and gave regular jolts to the Mumbai who were reduced at 28 for 4 and at lunch they were 56 for 5.

Hiken Shah (47 runs, 163balls, 8X4) and Sairaj Bahutule (42 runs, 117 balls, 3X4, 1X6) tried hard to put some resistance by adding 59 runs for the sixth wicket before Shah got out.

Mumbai lost another three wickets in quick succession including of Sairaj Bahutule and it seemed that the visitors could not cross 150 runs mark. But, Usman Malvi and Dhaval Kulkarni frustrated the hosts by putting up 72 runs for the last wicket which was the highest partnership for the visitors. However, the brave knock from Malvi came to an end when he played casual shots to off spinner Kamlesh Makwana and Sitanshu Kotak took breliant catch in the first sleep.

Mumbai were 493 runs behind and will have to bat tomorrow's full day to keep his first position intact in the point table.

For Saurashtra, Balkrishna Jadeja was the wrecker in chief taking 4 for 41, while Kamlesh Makwana and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each giving aw ay 32 and 62 runs respectively.