New Delhi: Mumbai defeated Karnataka by nine wickets in a one-sided affair in Vijay Hazare Trophy here at Firoze Shah Kotla on Tuesday to sail into the semi finals.
On a pitch which has been favouring the team who bowls first, it was obvious that the team winning the toss would elect to bowl. Mumbai did the same as after skipper Ajit Agarkar called it right with the coin, he sent Karnataka in for batting. Rest was repeat of the previous matches played at Kotla as the script remained the same and only the characters changed.
Indian International and Karnataka captain Robin Uthappa opened the innings alongwith Mayank Agarwal in overcast conditions. The ball was seaming and stopping creating difficulties for the batsmen. Still Robin Uthappa managed to score a quick 30 runs with the help if six boundaries but couldn't help in team’s cause. He got out caught by Rohit Sharma on a ball which stopped on him, off Kshemal Waingankar. Waingankar took the advantage of the conditions and claimed three wickets in the opening spell.
It was 57 for six at one stage for Karnataka, when Sunil Raju was joined by Raju Bhatkal. Their 74-run partnership for the seventh wicket did the repair work for Karnataka. The pitch started drying out and it seemed batting was comfortable from around 30th over onwards, and rightly so as they managed to scored 59 runs in the last 10 overs. Karnataka concluded their innings at a score of 178 runs in 50 overs.
Chasing a target of 178 in a wicket which looked completely different from the morning, it was just finishing formalities for Mumbai batsmen as it has turned into a batting friendly pitch by the afternoon. The combination of experience and youth of Wasim Jaffer and Ajinkya Rahane jelled well to give a good start for Mumbai. Wasim used his experience in Kotla to score some quick runs. He got out for 61, when the team score was 127. But by then, Mumbai was already in the driving seat. Rahane along with Sushunt Marathe took the team to the victory without losing further wickets. They completed their victory in 30th over.
By Sudheer Babu and Avinash Dhar
