New Delhi: Mumbai proved the notion that the team bowling first only wins the match at Feroze Shah Kotla wrong, when Ajit Agarkar, despite calling it right with the coin, decide to bat first and set a mammoth target of 295 before Delhi in the semi-final of Vijay Hazare Trophy here on Saturday. Later the visitors bundled out the hosts for 155 and won the final place comprehensively by 140 runs.
The beginning partnership of Wasim Jaffer and Ajinkya Rahane for Mumbai was very crucial as they gave a solid start, setting the platform for rest of the upcoming order. Mumbai lost its first wicket when Ajinkya Rahane stumped by Delhi wicket keeper Punit Bisht on the bowling of Varun Sood on his individual score of 42 runs and the total of 72 in 18.4 overs. This brought some hope for Delhi to come back strongly in the match. Though after the fall of first wicket, Wasim Jaffer was playing in the same fashion, maintaining his cool and temperament.
In the meanwhile another wicket fell on the score of 114 in 27.1 overs in the form of Sushant Marathe as he was caught by Parvinder Awana on the bowling of Pradeep Sangwan. It looked like that Delhi were trying to come back in the match and took the wicket of Wasim Jaffer with the Mumbai’s scorecard reading 172 runs. But it was too late for Delhi and Jaffer did his job by playing a fine innings of 92 runs, including 11 fours and one six, facing 110 balls.
Fourth wicket for Mumbai fell down on the score of 183 in 38.2 overs in the form of Anup Revandkar. But on one end Abhishek Nayar was making sure that he was not going to give up and took his team to the decent total. He played his strokes with confidence which caused a worry for Delhi bowlers and they looked helpless as Nayar was dealing in boundaries and sixes. In between, the fifth wicket for Mumbai fell down in the form of Shoaib Shaikh on his individual score of 20 runs when the Mumbai total reached a decent score of 246 in 46.4 overs. Ajit Agarkar, captain of Mumbai team, came to play on 7th down and played a captain's innings supporting Nayar on the other side by taking Mumbai total to 295 runs. Nayar remained unbeaten till the end and played a fine knock of 72 runs in 41 balls hitting eight fours and two sixes. He played with such an ease that it looked there was nothing for the bowlers on the pitch.
In reply to 295, it seemed that Delhi has come with a firm hope to play with patience and take it away from Mumbai. For Delhi the as usual openers in the form of Unmukt and Shikhar Dhawan started the proceedings and looked good but it was the Mumbai captain Ajit Agarkar who gave the first breakthrough to his team in the ninth over. After the fall of first wicket it looked that Delhi were in a hurry and started giving throwing their wickets as gifts to Mumbai bowlers. Shikhar Dhawan also could not help his team when it was much needed on his part and was out on his individual score of 34 runs with the scoreboard reading 57 for 4.
Jagrit Anand was the only batsman from Delhi who showed some character and played an innings of 51 runs. But Anand's batting could not rescue Delhi as the team fell down at the score of 155 runs.
For Mumbai Anup Revander was the highest wicket taker by claiming figures of three for 37 in 10 overs. Kshemal Waingankar and Iqbal Abdulla took two wickets each. And Shoaib Shaikh took one wicket. But all the bowlers of Mumbai were economical and didn't give any space for Delhi batsmen to play their shots freely.
