Can Shams Mulani's Maiden Five-for Propel Mumbai Past Chhattisgarh?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Jaipur, Dec 29 (NationPress) Shams Mulani, a left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, achieved his first List A five-wicket haul as Mumbai triumphed over Chhattisgarh by a commanding nine wickets in their Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group C match at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya ground on Monday.
Choosing to bowl first in favorable conditions, Mumbai's captain Shardul Thakur wreaked havoc on Chhattisgarh's batting lineup, securing four wickets. The right-arm seamer made a quick impact by taking two wickets in his opening over, leaving the opposition struggling at 9/3 within five overs. He further dismissed Ashutosh Singh and Sanjeet Desai, both caught at slip by Sarfaraz Khan, solidifying Mumbai's grip on the match.
Despite the early setbacks, Amandeep Khare (50) and Ajay Mandal (46) mounted a spirited recovery with a 105-run partnership for the fifth wicket, helping Chhattisgarh surpass the 100-run threshold. Khare, who recorded his third successive half-century of the tournament, maintained his composure until Mulani broke their partnership by trapping Mandal lbw.
Once that crucial partnership was broken, Mulani took control of the innings, leading to a collapse in Chhattisgarh's lower order. Musheer Khan claimed the key wicket of Khare, and the tailenders fell quickly, losing their last five wickets for a mere 37 runs, resulting in Chhattisgarh being bowled out for 143.
In pursuit of the modest total, Mumbai made quick work of the chase, with Angkrish Raghuvanshi scoring an unbeaten 68 off 66 balls, featuring six boundaries and two sixes. The young player, who had suffered a concussion just two days prior and required medical clearance to participate, played with remarkable maturity to anchor the innings.
Veteran Siddhesh Lad provided solid support with an unbeaten 48 off 42 balls, as the duo formed a crucial 93-run partnership for the second wicket. Despite an early loss of debutant opener Ishan Mulchandani to Harsh Yadav, Mumbai comfortably reached their target in just 24 overs.
Brief Scores: Chhattisgarh 142 all out in 38.1 overs (Amandeep Khare 63, Ajay Mandal 46; Shams Mulani 5-31, Shardul Thakur 4-31) lost to Mumbai 144/1 in 24 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 68 not out, Siddhesh Lad 48 not out; Harsh Yadav 1-44) by nine wickets.